PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Library and Port Townsend Public Library will no longer charge late fees on overdue books and movies.
The Port Townsend City Council approved a resolution Monday night allowing the city library to write off nearly $7,000 in late fees and to no longer require the library to charge late fees. The Jefferson County Library wrote off about $15,000 in late fees.
The Jefferson County Library Board of Trustees passed a similar resolution during its meeting Jan. 10.
“We know nationally, from research about late fines, that [fines] don’t actually get items back on time,” said Melody Eisler, Port Townsend Public Library director.
“[The fines] are punitive and they don’t inspire a lifelong love of reading and libraries.”
Eisler said the fines also are problematic for children. Because they can’t drive to the library, it’s easy for children to inadvertently rack up fines and then not be able to get what they need for school, she said.
The libraries are writing off about 3,000 accounts that owed late fees, about a tenth of Jefferson County’s population, Eisler said, speaking for both the Port Townsend and Jefferson County libraries after discussing the issue with county library officials.
“Libraries are finding nationally that items still come back on time when the fines go away because people really do believe in the greater good of their shared community resource,” she said.
“And usage goes up as more people start coming back to the library because that barrier is removed.”
Eisler said both libraries had been working to do away with late fees in recent years. The city library began auto-renewing books that had been checked out. It still charged late fees on movies until the City Council took action Monday night.
She said some owed more than others. People who owed more than $25 were not allowed to check out any more items from the libraries, she said.
“I cannot tell you how many conversations I’ve had in libraries I’ve worked at in the past about people being very upset about a 25-cent fine,” Eisler said. “Now we can eliminate this conversation.”
The libraries are preparing letters to library card holders who are benefiting from the new policy, Eisler said.
The plan is to welcome them back to the library and let them know they have a clean slate.
“We’re working on ‘welcoming back’ letters at the city library and the county library to let people know: ‘You’re fine free; Come back; We can’t wait to see you at the library,’ ” Eisler said.
It’s part of a nationwide trend in libraries eliminating overdue fees, said Tamara Meredith, Jefferson County Library director.
“It’s become common for public libraries to eliminate overdue fees, especially since they do not use or plan for those fees as part of their operating budgets,” she said in a news release.
“Going fine-free removes a barrier to access for many, including those who struggle with transportation to return items or children with late fees on their accounts who are prevented from borrowing materials they need for school,” Meredith added.
Meredith said in an interview that after fines reach a certain point, many don’t feel comfortable going to the library anymore.
“We’re glad this is going to be a seamless transition,” she said. “I’m really happy to be working with other folks that have this same sense of teamwork about making this a better library system.”
The new policies don’t mean that the libraries won’t still fine library users. Eisler said the libraries will still fine people who lose or damage items.
If an item has been checked out for four weeks it’s library policy to send the library user a bill for the item. If they return the item, they aren’t charged for it, she said.
Eisler said she is excited that so many people in Jefferson County will benefit from the new policy.
“To know, hopefully, it will inspire people to come back to the library is so heartwarming,” she said.
“We want people to be able to use their library and to always feel welcome.”
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
Melody Eisler, director of the Port Townsend Public Library, reshelves DVDs on Tuesday. DVDs were the last items the library charged late fees for. (Jesse Major/Peninsula Daily News)
