There will no longer be fines for overdue books at the Swarthmore Public Library, writes Denali Sagner for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Overdue fees discourage people from using the library, said Swarthmore Library Director Alec Staley.
It joins other libraries that have eliminated the late fee.
The Upper Darby Township and Sellers Memorial Free Public Library, Newtown Public Library, Media-Upper Providence Free Library, and Ridley Park Public Library no longer have the fine..
Once late fees start to accrue, patrons stay away to avoid paying them. That is especially true for low-income patrons, who often need the library the most.
There was a 240 percent increase in the return of materials within three weeks after the Chicago Public Library dropped its fees in 2019.
The new policy doesn’t mean people can just keep library books.
Late fees will be wiped from patrons’ accounts, but there will still be a lost-item charge.
Unreturned items after three weeks will be considered “lost,” and a fee will be charged. The fee is dropped if the “lost” book is returned.
“This is by no means a free-for-all,” said Elizabeth Brown, president of the library’s board of trustees.
Read more about why the late fee is being eliminated in many libraries in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
