The Newmarket Public Library is making a pandemic policy permanent as it is formally eliminating all late fees starting in 2023.
The library board approved the move Nov. 16. The policy will see all late fines removed going forward.
In a report to the board, CEO Tracy Munusami said removing late fines has been happening at libraries for several years. She said fines go against the library’s core values of inclusivity and providing equitable access, and that this is a way to support the community during an economic downturn.
“Removing fines will make the library a more welcoming space,” she said. “The punitive system of fines and being blocked can result in negative customer experiences that can impact a person for life. In the survey results from our strategic plan, one customer noted that they had been wrongly charged fines in 1990 and, as a result, are no longer a library customer today. Another customer said the fines impact their experience because they are on ODSP.”
The library has not collected any revenue for fines for the past three years, eliminating them amidst the pandemic disruption to services. Before then, it said fine revenue was on the decline, dropping about 5.3 per cent annually since 2015.
The CEO offered statistics from neighbours for the argument. She said libraries in neighbouring East Gwillimbury saw a 41 per cent decrease in lost material and an increase in physical circulation six months after going fine free, and that libraries have generally seen more usage after instituting the policy.
The library has been planning on this for five years, Munusami said, and can make up for the lost revenue through room rentals and a giving campaign. She added that there will be a “pay-it-forward” campaign available for those that feel paying for overdue books helps contribute to the library. However, the library will still keep a policy of charging a replacement cost to customers for lost items.
“The impacts of eliminating fines will include growth in active cardholders and circulation and result in a more inclusive and positive customer experience. People will associate taking out library material with a positive experience without the anxiety-inducing weight of punitive fines,” Munusami said.
