King County Libraries (KCLS) have announced late fines for overdue books will end May 9.
Late fines worsen inequality and discourage library use. Individuals with low-income and limited access to transportation and technology are most impacted.
Late fines generate little revenue. In recent years, fines made up less than 1% of the total operating budget. Totals collected continue to decrease over time. This trend correlates with patrons checking out more digital and fewer physical items. Digital titles return automatically and do not accrue late fines.
Collecting fines from patrons also has costs. Associated expenses include staff time, payment processing fees, printing notices, and more.The Board voted for the resolution to drop fines Thursday.“The people most impacted are those who already face the greatest challenges. These include individuals with low incomes and limited access to transportation and technology,” Lisa Rosenblum, Executive Director of KCLS said. “Late fines only worsen inequity and discourage library use.
The policy does not impact replacement fees. If library materials are more than 30 days overdue, the library considers them lost. It will continue to charge replacement fees for lost, damaged, and missing items.
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