End Library Fines Press Release (July 18, 2019)

Interviews

Denton, Fort Worth are the Latest Libraries to Get Rid of Late Fines, a Trend Some Say is Overdue (Dallas Morning News)
Andy talks about the national trend to eliminate fines in libraries.

Librarian: Ending Library Fines is a Social Justice Issue (KJZZ)
Andy talks about the evolution of eliminating library fines on KJZZ’s program The Show.

Princh Library Lounge, Episode 2: Library Fines with Meg DePriest and Beth Crist
Meg and Beth talk about the importance of ending library fines within communities and the impact it can make.

Articles

2019 (Articles are updated on a rolling basis)

Canberra [Australia] Pardons $1.86 Million Worth of Outstanding Library Fines, Abolishes Late Fees (ABC Australia)

Eugene [OR] Public Library to End Overdue Fines for Children and Teens (The Register-Guard)

Overdue Books at the Boston [MA] Public Library Will Soon be Fine-Free for Readers Under 18 Years Old (Boston.com)

Off the Shelf: [Southwest Public] Librar(ies) [OH] Ends Collection of Fines for Overdue Items (ThisWeek Community News)

[Denison University OH] Library Eliminates Late Fees in Pursuit of Fostering Community Equity (The Denisonian)

Leeds [UK] Libraries Axe Fines for Late Library Books (BBC)

Fort Worth [TX] Library Now Fine Free, Existing Overdue Fines Forgiven (WBAP)

Chicago [IL] to Become Largest US Public Library System to Go Fine-Free for Overdue Materials That Get Returned (Chicago Tribune)

Late to Return That Book? Don’t worry, several Treasure Valley [ID] Libraries Are Now Fine Free (CBS 2 Idaho News)

Buchanan [IN] Library to Eliminate Overdue Fees on Rentals (ABC57)

Effington [IL] Public Library Card Holders Set Free From Fines (Daily News)

Thousands of Sarasota County [FL] Kids Can Check Out Library Books Again (Herald-Tribune)

Frederick County [MD] Public Libraries To Remove Late Fees for Children’s Materials (Frederick News-Post)

[Glenn County CA] Local Libraries Eliminating Overdue Fines (Glenn County Transcript)

‘No Fines’ Policy Enacted for South Bend [IN] Students Who Turn in Late Library Books (South Bend Tribune) (School district!)

San Francisco [CA] Library Eliminates Overdue Fines (KPIX CBS 5)

(University of Dallas TX) Library Drops Late Fees and Seeks New Hire (The University News)

Library Late Fines as Social Inequity: Librarians Consider Ditching Due-Date Fees (Nebraska NPR)
(Beth, Meg, and Andy are mentioned in the article.)

Sarasota County [FL] Ends Library Fines (Herald-Tribune)

Phoenix [AZ] Approves Library Fine Forgiveness Program (KJZZ)

Detroit [MI] Libraries Nix Late Fees (Michigan NPR)

Waukesha [WI] Public Library Goes Fine-Free for Children’s Materials (WTMJ4 Milwaukee)

No More Overdue Fines at the Idaho Falls [ID] Library (8ABC)

Belmont [NH] Public Library is Going Fine-Free (Laconia Daily Sun)

Marysville [OH] Library Doing Away with Late Fees (Marysville Journal-Tribune)

Fines May Go the Way of the Card Catalog at Kalamazoo’s [MI] Public Library (WMUK 102.1)

New Orleans [LA] Public Library is Eliminating Fines for Youth Materials (Mayor’s Office)

Sequim Library, (North Olympic Library System) [WA] Branches Drop Overdue Materials Fines (Sequim Gazette)

Westlake Porter [OH] Public Library is Going Fine-Free (Cleveland.com)

Brooke County [OH] Library to Drop Most Fines (Herald-Star)

Carnegie [Steuben County IN] Goes Fine Free (The Herald Republican)

Ellsworth [ME] Public Library will go Fine Free for Children’s Materials (Bangor Daily News)

Calvert Library [MD] Board of Library Trustees Votes in Fine Free Permanently (Southern Maryland News Net)

Jones Library [MA] Eliminates Late Fees for All Patrons (Daily Hampshire Gazette)

Libraries are Increasing Usage by Going Fine-Free (InfoToday)

Muskegon Area [MI] District Library to Eliminate Fines for Children (WZZM13)

Westlake [OH] Library Giving up on Fines (Cleveland.com)

Late Fines Eliminated at Spokane [WA] Public Libraries (Houston Chronicle)

Dundalk [Ireland] Library Gets a Makeover (The Argus)

Fines, Overdue Fees Eliminated at Midland [MI] Library (Midland Daily News)

Westlake [OH] Porter Public Library Will Go Fine Free Starting in September (Westlake-Bay Village Observer)

West Georgia Library System First in State to Eliminate Overdue Fines (GPB/NPR)

Local Libraries Join National Trend of Eliminating Library Fees [Idaho] (Idaho Press)

Cleveland [OH] Public Library is Officially Fine-Free (Fox8 Cleveland)

Mountain View [CA] Library Eliminates Overdue Fines (Los Altos Town Crier)

No More Overdue Fines. Chattahoochee Valley [GA] Libraries’ New Policy to be First in Georgia (Ledger-Enquirer)

Ellsworth [ME] Library Eliminates Fines for Overdue Children’s and Young Adult Materials (Ellsworth American)

Oldham Council [UK] to Cancel Library Fines (Oldham Council)

Overdue Book Fees No More at Tiffin-Seneca [OH] Public Library (Advertiser-Tribune)

Libraries Across Connecticut Are Eliminating Overdue Fines (WNPR)

Some People No Longer Have to Worry About These Fines at Halton Hills [Ontario Canada] Public Library (In Halton)

Johnstown [NY] Public Library Goes ‘Fine Free’ (Daily Gazette)

Lynchburg [VA] Public Library Eliminates Fines for Youth Materials (The News & Advance)

[Jasper-Dubois IN] Library Board Joins Trend Eliminating Fines (The Herald)

Improving Access to Your [Sonoma County CA] Library, Ongoing (The Healdsburg Tribune)

Mountain View [CA] Library Eliminates Late Fees (Mountain View Voice)

Indiana County [IN] Largely Eliminates Fines for Overdue Items (US News)

Dubuque [IA] Drops Fines After Test Run (Radio Iowa)

Fine Free at Culpepper County [VA] Library (Fauquier Times)

Sonoma County [CA] Library Eliminates Fines for 80,000 Patrons (Sonoma County Gazette)

Kansas City [MO] Public Library Ends Overdue Fines (Kansas City Star)

Say Goodbye to Overdue Book Fines [Amery WI] (The Amery Free Press)

The Times Recommends: Vote Yes on Seattle 2019 Library-Levy Renewal (Seattle Times)

Elizabeth Taber Library [MA] is Fine with No Fines (Sippican Week)

Dubuque [IA] Library Ditching Fines for Overdue Materials, Amnesty for Existing Fines (KCRG)

Long Overdue: Oakland [CA] Public Libraries Go ‘Fine Free’, Part of a Growing Social Justice Movement

No More Overdue Fines for Children’s Books at San Antonio [TX] Libraries (KSAT)

Richland [SC] Library Gets Rid of Overdue Fines (Post and Courier)

Pittsburg [KS] Public Library Eliminates Overdue Fines (The Morning Sun)

Late Book? No Problem. Harrison County [KY] Public Library Eliminates Fines (WDRB)

Camden County [NJ] Forgiving Most Overdue Library Fees Soon (KYW)

Alameda County [CA] Library is Going Fine Free (PR Newswire)

Marshall [WI] Library Going Fine-Free (The Courier)

Columbus [OH] Public Library No Longer Charging for Overdue Fines (Columbus Journal)

Altoona [WI] Library Going ‘Fine Free’ to Encourage More Reading (WQOW)

Oakland [CA] Public Library to Get Rid of Fines and Late Fees (KQED)

Salford [UK] Council Scraps Overdue Library Book Fines, Saying It Doesn’t Want Readers and Families to ‘Worry’ About Daily Charges (Manchester Evening News)

Eau Claire [WI] County Libraries Go Fine-Free (WEAU)

Montclair Public Library [NJ] Eliminates Late Fines for Overdue Books (NorthJersey.com)
(Way to go, Pete! -A)

[Grand River MN Regional] Library: No More Late Fines for Kid, Teen Items (KNSI)

Dallas City Council [TX] Axes Library’s Overdue Fines, Plans to Zero-Out Past Fines (NBC DFW)

Canyon Area [TX] Library is Now Fine Free (KFDA CBS 10)

St. Paris [OH] Library Ending Overdue Fines (Urbana Daily Citizen)

Maricopa County [AZ] Libraries to Stop Charging Late Fees (AZ Central)

Arlington [MA] Libraries are FINE FREE (Blog post)

Griffith Community [New South Wales, Australia] Embraces No Library Fines (Mirage News)

Santa Barbara [CA] Library Plans to Eliminate Daily Overdue Library Fines to be More Equitable (Noozehawk)

[Czech Republic] New Bill to Prevent Children from Falling into Debt (Czech Radio)

[Tulare CA] County Library Closes the Book on Late Fees (Sun Gazette)

Kent District Library [MI] Will Eliminate Late Fees Effective June 1 (Mlive.com)

Newfield [NY] Public Library Going Fine Free (Ithaca.com)

[Johnstown NY] Public Library No Longer Charging Fines (Leader-Herald)

Austin Public Library Eliminates Fines on Materials for Juveniles (Austin Daily Herald)

Iowa City Public Library Preparing to Go Fine-Free for Children’s, Young Adult Materials (9ABC)

Liberty Lake Library Eliminates Fines on Late Returns (Spokesman-Review)

Why the Dallas Public Library Wants to Close the Book on Late Fees (NPR)

Part of Seattle’s $213 Million Levy Would Eliminate Overdue Library Fines

Library Fines Hit Seattle’s Lower-Income Neighborhoods Hardest

FORGIVING: Driftwood Library’s New Overdue Fine Policy

Library Fines Abolished in Plan to Double Membership (Irish Times)

2018

The latest trend in libraries: eliminating fines – Interview with Beth Crist and Meg DePriest (Princh)

Denver Public Library Eliminates Fines (KDVR)

Baltimore’s Pratt Library Goes Fine Free for Overdue Books

An Overdue Discussion (American Libraries Magazine)
Reaction: Fines are Discriminatory (Letter to the Editor) (American Libraries Magazine, September/October 2018)
“Unless the fines are going to be based on income, they are inherently discriminatory, and it makes using the money for operating expenses absolutely unconscionable. It puts the burden of supporting the library on those least able to afford it and is antithetical to the profession’s ethical positions.”

The Fine Free Library: One Year Later (Medium)

Death to Library Fines (The Outline)

Doing Fine(s)? (Library Journal)
A survey of libraries that collect fines.

The End of Fines? (Library Journal)

Mayor Suggests Fine-Free Libraries So “Everyone Can Check Out a Book” (Intellectual Takeout)

2017

The Case Against Library Fines – According to the Head of the New York Public Library (Quartz)

Long Overdue: Why Public Library are Finally Eliminating the Late-Return Fine (Slate)

Libraries are Dropping Overdue Fines – But Can They Afford To? (Huffington Post)

Libraries Are Fining Children Who Can’t Afford to Be Without Books (New York Times)

2016

In San Jose, Poor Finds Doors to Library Closed (New York Times)

2013

Little Library with a Big Heart (Library Journal)
via the Internet Archive

2009

The Last Taboo: Abolishing Library Fines (The Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research, vol. 4, no. 1 (2009))

2007

How One Overdue Book Can Hurt Your Credit Score (New York Times)

Better Late than Never (School Library Journal)
“… the issue of late fines almost always comes up. That’s why I wasn’t surprised when the Columbus (OH) Metropolitan Library surveyed their young patrons and discovered that 41 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds said their library cards were blocked due to overdue materials. These kids weren’t using the library because they couldn’t afford it.”

2006

Grassroots Report: A Fine Madness (American Libraries) [Excerpt]
Oct2006, Vol. 37 Issue 9, p45-45. 1p (found via Academic Search Premier)

Philadelphia Backs off Fine Policy (Library Journal)
2/15/2006, Vol. 131 Issue 3, p20-20. 1/8p.
“A year ago, the library doubled daily book fines to a formidable 50¢ per day but, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, that actually deterred use. “Fewer books were coming back, and people were not paying fines…but, more important, we saw evidence that fewer people were borrowing books,” director Elliot Shelkrot told the newspaper. Fine revenue for 2005 was $760,000, down from the $780,000 it collected the previous year. So the library has reversed its policy, and fines are now 25¢ a day.”

2005

Time to Free Public Libraries?
(APLIS. Dec2005, Vol. 18 Issue 4, p129-130. 2p.)
(found via Academic Search Premier)

1999

To Fine or Not to Fine?
(American Libraries. Sep99, Vol. 30 Issue 8, p75. 3p.)
(found via Academic Search Premier)