Got an overdue library book? Why Wake County won’t fine you for being late
For Jill Nelson checking out books at the library often came with a quick shuffle through her family’s six library cards.
She got each of her five children their own library card to help teach them about responsibility and independence. But that also came with late fees from the Wake County Public Libraries.
But as of Jan. 2 the library wiped late fees for nearly 300,000 people like Nelson. And it won’t issue any more late fees in the future.
“I am really excited,” Nelson said. “It’s been the biggest struggle for us.”
The library system, which has nearly two dozen branches, made the request earlier this year and the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved it in June.
“We have been focusing on trying to look at barriers to access and library services,” said Ann Burlingame, assistant director of Wake County Public Libraries.
Fees are a ‘barrier’
Libraries across the country are ending late fees. The American Library Association passed a resolution that called late fees “a barrier” to library services. The Chapel Hill Public Library is considering it. The Durham and Orange County library systems still have late fees.
Wake County has renewed efforts on getting library resources into the hands of people who most need their services, Burlingame said, and waving the fees is one way to reach those people.
People will still be fined for losing a book and never returning it. But those fees will be waived once the book is returned.
“We are trying to say we are removing barriers but it doesn’t mean removing responsibilities,” Burlingame said. “We have an expectation that you bring those books back. If you don’t bring them back, you will have to pay for replacing the book. But you won’t be punished for bringing them back late.”
The check-out period for books will also be expanded from two weeks to three. Patrons will be able to renew their books twice, for three week each, as long as no one is on the waiting list for the book. Or the renewal can happen automatically if the book hasn’t been returned. After nine weeks, the book is considered “long overdue” and a person can’t check out more books if three or more items are in “long overdue” status.
“The reception has been so good,” she said. “There is just excitement and appreciation.”
Financial impact on Wake
There have been some concerns about the financial impact of not collecting the fees, but Burlingame said that won’t be an issue for Wake County.
Unlike smaller library systems that can rely on fees as a significant source of income, Wake County Public Libraries won’t be financially hurt by the change, she said. Late fees were only expected to make up $100,000 of the system’s budget this year.
Over five years, Nelson said she likely racked up a total of $500 in late fees.
“My hope is people will continue to go to the library and not stop, just because of late fees,” she said. “You don’t want it to be a deterrent where people are afraid of their librarian.”
