The Thompson-Nicola Regional Library system is permanently doing away with fines and overdue charges.
Manager of Community Libraries and Engagement, Melissa Lowenberg, says its because fines can create a barrier to access, especially for seniors, children, and low income residents.
“Our entire mandate is to create a welcoming environment and when people are feeling guilty about having fines, that really works in contradiction to our entire mandate,” she told NL News. “This really opens up the library to people who maybe haven’t used us for a while.”
The no fine model has been in place since March 11, and Lowenberg says any outstanding fines on people’s accounts will be waived when they come into the library. People will still continue to get reminders about upcoming due dates as before.
“We also still have the notices for the long overdue books. So that wouldn’t change but those are sort of rare situations so we don’t expect any great change of patron behaviour either,” she said. “We know most materials are returned within the first week of being late.”
“People who do not return library materials will be charged replacement fees or have their borrowing privileges blocked until items are returned.”
Revenue from fines has been decreasing for several years, making up 0.4 per cent of the library’s revenue in 2019, or $37,194. That is down from $46,798 in 2017. In 2020 before COVID, $11,587 was collected in fines.
“Our system data shows 10 per cent of active cardholders have a ‘block’ on their account resulting from unpaid fines,” Chief Librarian Judy Moore said, in a report to the TNRD board. “This data suggests that fines do not have the desired effect of encouraging people to return their materials on time, and instead result in non-payment of fines and reduced use of the library.”
Moore says the loss of fine revenues will be absorbed into the library’s operating budget, noting they’re confident that the loss of revenue can be offset through operating efficiencies and cost savings as a result of no longer collecting fines.
The Kamloops-area libraries are joining others across Canada in eliminating fines, including libraries in Burnaby, Richmond, Invermere, Fort St. James, and Creston.
For more on the elimination of fines, go here.