Chapel Hill Public Library goes fine free

Chapel Hill Public Library users no longer have to worry about overdue fines.

Starting July 1, the library is operating a fine-free model, which means it no longer will fine library patrons if they forget to return their library books on time.

Chapel Hill joins a growing number of library systems across the county, including Wake County Public Libraries, to go fine free. Chapel Hill library staff spent several years reviewing data, considering impacts and learning from other libraries that have moved forward with the model.

“Most all of them indicated that soon after adopting a fine-free model, both lapsed users and long-lost materials came back in great numbers, and that well after the model was in place, items were returned in a timely fashion," said Susan Brown, the library's director, in a press release.

The strategy aims to increase access and address equity issues in the library. Without worries about fines, more people are able to check out a book or other materials.

“When the Board and Council dug into this issue, we found that fines disproportionately affect low-income and traditionally marginalized populations. This policy change is one more way that we can put our values into action in Chapel Hill," said Jess Anderson, the town council liaison to the Library Advisory Board, in the press release. 

The loss of fines also won't be a big dent in the library's overall budget. According to the town, they represent only 1% of the library's operating budget.

Before this change in policy, a user who kept items past the due date would accumulate fines for each successive day past the due date, according to the release.

Here's how the new policy works, according to the press release: A user who keeps items past the due date will receive a series of notices reminding them that the item should be returned. If the items are not returned after a certain period of time, the user will receive a bill for the replacement cost of the materials and their ability to check out other materials will be suspended. If the item is returned, the user’s ability to borrow materials will be restored.  If the items cannot be found, the user can pay the bill for the items and then their ability to borrow materials will be restored, the press release says.