What does "fine free" mean?
Ultimately, there should be no change to your borrowing habits.
Library materials still need to either be returned or renewed within 21 days of checkout. But if you are a little late, you won’t get charged each day for being overdue.
If an item is overdue for too long, the Library will consider it “lost,” and you, the borrower, will be charged a replacement fee. Borrowers with large unpaid balances for “lost item” and other fees may have borrowing privileges suspended and could be referred to a debt collection agency and be charged a $10.00 debt collection fee.
Why waive late fines?
The Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees approved the discontinuation of charging late fines in April 2020 to ensure that the Library would not add any financial hardship for borrowers. There are several reasons that the Library joined hundreds of other libraries across the country and made the policy permanent:
- Studies from other libraries show that per day late fines are ineffective for getting patrons to return items on time. (Suspending borrowing privileges is more effective, without the financial impact.)
- Staff time can be better applied to other tasks, rather than dealing with late fine issues.
- Fines disproportionately affect borrowers in lower-income areas, likely deterring borrowers who need the Library from utilizing resources.
- Because so many balances go unpaid, the financial impact is manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
I still have a balance on my account - why?
We only waived historical per day late fines. Other fees and charges, such as fees for lost items, printing, and other purchases may still be on cardholder accounts.
Will this make my hold times longer?
We don’t anticipate that this will negatively affect wait times for holds. Books are still due and need to be returned on time to avoid suspension of borrowing privileges.
What if I return an item after it was designated as “lost”?
If a borrower eventually returns “lost” items, their account may still reflect a $10.00 debt collection fee because of the expense the Library incurs for the collection service to recover the value of the item(s). This fee will exist as a balance on the borrower’s account even after returning the item(s).
Why not also waive lost item fees?
The Library’s collection - the books, movies, and other materials - is at the core of our services, and is a substantial investment of taxpayer funds. In order to be good stewards of these funds, it is important that we enforce compensation for lost, damaged, or stolen items.
Where can I see the rules about checking out Library materials?
Rules are on our Circulation Policies webpage.