In September, the City of Soldotna adopted a measure that only charges library patrons for permanently lost items. Subsequently, the City of Kenai adopted a similar plan with regards to library fees during their Wednesday evening City Council meeting.
Libraries going “fine-free” is a trend sweeping the nation. A quick Google search shows just how popular the movement is.
City Manager Paul Ostrander offered details on the plan: “What this does is that it changes our fee schedule, so basically it takes out those fines for late books that normally would charge .10 cents per day. That’s going away. I would add that one of the elements that we’re not losing is that if someone loses or damages a book, or any other item that they check out from the library, they’ll still be responsible to either fix that item or to cover the replacement costs of the item. The way that we define a ‘lost’ book in the library, right now, is when you check out a book, you get to check it out for 20 days. You can check it out or renew it for another 20 days for a full 40 days, but once you get ten days beyond that, then it’s considered – it moves from being a ‘late’ book to being a ‘lost’ book. At that point, you’re responsible for either bringing the book back or paying for the replacement of that book. You are not allowed to check any other items out.”
Katja Wolfe, Director of the Kenai Community Library also offered details: “We’re actually trying remove fines for all of the items in the library, so that also includes DVDs and CDs. So, it’s books, DVDs, CDs, any of the items that we have available for check-out. For DVDs, the check-out period is seven days, so once that’s done, they can renew it one more time, and if they don’t return it after seven days, the item becomes overdue. The items don’t actually get marked ‘lost’ until 30 days after they are overdue, but we do send notices to our patrons. So, after three days for DVDs, we send out a notice via e-mail that says ‘Your items are overdue, please return them.’ After ten days, we do the same thing. We get a little bit more strict. Then, after 20 days, we send them a notice that says, ‘Please return your items, or within the next ten days, we will charge you with the fines.'”
She also said that she does not believe patrons who are late in returning books are irresponsible, as it typically is a matter of inconvenience. She also cited data showing that fines do not act as a deterrent for patrons keeping items late.
Council Member Tim Navarre commented that he believes in this ordinance because it ultimately helps, most often, those in cases of hardship.
Ostrander said that the usual funds gained from late fees will be replaced by funding from the city’s general fund. Resolution 2020-81 passed unanimously.
