Beginning January 1, 2019, the Contra Costa County Library will eliminate overdue fines on all library materials. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted today, Tuesday, December 11 in favor of the proposal to eliminate daily fines on overdue books, magazines, DVDs and other materials.
By eliminating fines, the library is removing barriers and making access easy, equitable and enjoyable for everyone.
“Our libraries are open for the entire community to take advantage of all they have to offer,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. “Saying goodbye to fines gives everyone an opportunity to restart their relationship with the library.”
Of more than 650,000 cardholders countywide, 118,450 (18%) currently have their cards blocked due to fines. Forty-three percent of youth accounts currently owe a balance and approximately 21,000 youth cards are blocked at a critical time in their lives.
“Families are staying away from the library because it’s simply too expensive for them,” said County Librarian Melinda Cervantes. “We don’t want people to have to choose between putting food on the table and reading.”
Overdue library material fines and library material replacement charges make up approximately 2 percent of the library’s revenue. Since 2013, revenue from fines and charges has decreased by 31 percent. During this same period, circulation of eBooks and other e-resources have increased 128 percent. E-resources are already fine free and benefit those with greater access to technology.
Eliminating overdue fines will also result in more positive customer interactions and allow staff to focus on creativity and exceptional service.
“We have so many outstanding and enthusiastic staff members who would much rather spend their time helping someone find the next great read or learn how to use one of our online resources,” said Deputy County Librarian Nancy Kreiser. “They can spend more time making people smile.”
The Contra Costa County Library is the first county library in California and largest in the state to eliminate fines for everyone. The Library joins others across the country that have gone fine-free.
Patrons will still be expected to return library materials on time. Checkout periods on materials will remain the same and patrons will incur a replacement charge if materials are not returned 30 days after the due date.
For more information about the Contra Costa County Library, visit them online at: www.ccclib.org
11 comments
Library books should be returned on time. How hard is that? You can check out books for 9 weeks (including two renewals)! If they want to do away with the fines – fine. But they’re enabling irresponsibility. How about sending a message to people who are irresponsible to return their books on time, and they won’t incur a fee.
If libraries were invented tomorrow, people like you would think it’s some sort of socialist experiment and vote to ban it.
You’re the one who started the fight, not Nick or myself. Get over yourself.
I agree with Melanie. Return the books on time, and quit making excuses for late returns. There’s about 30 comments on another blog against this too. Jerry – you’re in the minority, and people that think like your are irresponsible excuse makers. Nine weeks is a VERY long time to get the books returned in a timely manner. If you can’t return them in nine weeks, you’ll never bring them back.
What did I say that I want to enable these people? I was stating an existential idea. I know Nick since you’re racist and all, you think all these folks are some shadow black/brown youth causing riff raff, but in actuality many of them are seniors, handicapped, or on fixed incomes. Most of these books are donated and not brand new. I know you’d be happy seeing more people in jail or punished in some way, but get off your high horse and have some compassion/empathy.
Almost half (43 percent) are YOUTHS. And the fine is 25 cents a day. If you can’t return a book in 9 WEEKS you’re irresponsible. Why is compassion necessary for someone who can’t return a book in 9 weeks? It’s ridiculous. and at 25 cents per day, it’s hardly a financial strain if a book is a few days late
If you can’t return a book in 9 weeks, you shouldn’t check the book out.
This has NOTHING to do with race. Jerry, you’re a moron.
Jerry is absolutely correct . I am a example of that . Many years ago when my kids were small we had checked out books . I was going threw a nasty divorce My husband kept the books after my children had brought them to his house after a visitation with him . He would never give them back to return them . That went against me i have never had the money to pay for the fines as I’m fully disabled and on a fixed income .
I have wanted to take my granddaughter to the library but because of these fines I can’t check anything out to show her how the library works . Now this will be a new experience for both of us . I’m so grateful for the forgiveness .
Your husband should have to pay for the books that weren’t returned. You do realize that a replacement charge will be charged if you don’t bring the books back in 30 days. I hope it’s the cost of the book.
I was sick, hospitalized and my family was caring for me. Fast forward a year, we moved and I found all of the library books that should’ve been returned while I was in the hospital. It was an oversight. It wasn’t on purpose. Life happens.. and thousands of dollars in fines wouldn’t have stopped me from being in the hospital or made me jump from my hospital bed and suddenly remember that my kids and I have all these overdue books. Not everyone who returns a book late, is an irresponsible excuse maker. This is what’s wrong with the world today.. to many people are hating on others for their imperfections.. instead of asking how they can help lift the person up. Be a positive influence on the world; not a negative one.
It wouldn’t be “thousands of dollars in fines.” They’d make you pay for the book. Quit exaggerating, and return your books on time. Problem solved.
With libraries no longer requiring fees for the late return of books, this new system will be abused as well. I put my name on a list for a book I absolutely needed from which to get information for term paper. The idiot who borrowed it before me, never returned the book and then skipped town with it. The book was out of print and it could not be replaced.
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