Pickering Public Library Closes the Chapter on Late Fees
PICKERING, ON (Monday, May 30, 2022):
The Pickering Public Library is the latest to join a growing list of public libraries committed to no longer charging late fees on overdue items. The movement amongst North American libraries has been tagged #finefree and has been widely adapted by public libraries in the GTA. This new policy will make library services more inclusive and welcoming to all residents of Pickering.
The Pickering Public Library Board, like many public libraries, temporarily suspended charging late fees in March 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This provided the library with a “trial run” for permanently ending the collection of late fees. “Over the last two years, the feedback we’ve had from the community about not charging late fees has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Pickering Public Library Board Chair, Sarah Jeffrey Sheehy. “It is the number one comment we hear about the library – clients are thrilled!”
The practice of charging fees for overdue items goes back many decades. Applying an overdue fee was long thought to be the best way to encourage clients to return their items on time. For the average library user, the amounts charged were not steep enough to cause any financial hardship; however, for individuals living on a fixed income or with financial vulnerabilities, the charges could create barriers to accessing the library if they could not afford to pay. Often the people who needed the library most were the ones who could not afford to pay their late fees.
When it comes to ending late fees, a common concern from library clients maybe that they will have to wait longer for loaned materials to become available. “We have reviewed data from the last three years to see if late fees charged affected whether people returned their items on time,” said Jackie Flowers, Pickering Public Library CEO. “We compared the data from 2019 when we charged fees with data from the two years of the pandemic when we didn’t charge fees. It was fascinating to see that more items were returned on time when we stopped charging late fees!”
Library clients will still be responsible for returning their items on time and the library will continue to charge replacement costs for items that are lost or damaged. Clients that keep library items well past their due date will be charged a replacement/lost item amount on their account which has to be settled before they can borrow new items.
In addition to permanently ending late fees, the library has forgiven all historical fines on library accounts. “We are closing the chapter on late fees and want to welcome back anyone who has not used their Picking Public Library recently” says Flowers. “Stop by any library location and staff will be happy to get you a new library card so you can start using your library.”
The Pickering Public Library invites the community to join in the Goodbye Late Fees! announcement at the Central Library (One the Esplanade) on Saturday, June 4th at 1:20pm as part of their MakerFest activities.
KEY FACTS
- Since the start of the pandemic, the Pickering Public Library has not charged late fees on overdue items. The Pickering Public Library Board recently passed a motion to stop charging late fees on a permanent basis.
- Studies have shown that late fees are not effective in motivating library clients to return their items on time. In the second half of 2021 when overdue fees were not charged, Pickering Public Library clients returned 94% of their items on time.
- Library clients will still be responsible for returning their items on time. Overdue notifications will be sent and a replacement/lost item charge will be applied to clients’ accounts for any items well past due.
- Overdue fees are only charged on physical items borrowed; digital items such as e-books and e-audiobooks are automatically returned on their due date. As a result of the increasing use of digital collections, Pickering Public Library saw a 40% reduction in late fees collected from 2015 to 2019.
- In 2019, late fees collected from overdue items represented less than 1% of the annual budget.
- The Library is hosting a Goodbye Late Fees! event at the Central Library (One the Esplanade) on Saturday, June 4th at 1:20pm as part of their MakerFest
- All historic late fees on client accounts are forgiven. This will be reflected on client accounts by the end of June 2022.
For more information, visit pickeringlibrary.ca/borrowing-guide/.
Media Contact:
Jackie Flowers
CEO/Director of Public Libraries
Pickering Public Library
905.831.6265 ext. 6222
jackieflowers@pickeringlibrary.ca
-30-
Pickering Public Library is an award-winning library serving 95,000 City of Pickering residents across 31,000 households with over 34,000 active library card accounts. Operating under the guidance of a Board of Directors, the library is primarily funded through municipal contributions and is comprised of three locations that provide excellence in client experience.
Staffed by over 60 permanent employees who are committed to making a difference within the community, the library lends over 760,000 items, receives over 495,000 visits, delivers programs and events for over 17,000 attendees, provides over 33,000 research and technology assists, conducts over 100,000 digital learning sessions and delivers almost 23,000 public computer sessions each year.
Pickering Public Library’s Vision: Pickering is a city where learning is promoted in all its forms and promoted as a force for improved personal, social, civic, and economic change. The Library is the heart of a learning city.
