Read more, worry less — the Redwood City Public Library is now “fine free.” The Library stopped charging overdue fines for late returns on Tuesday.
At its meeting Monday, the Redwood City Council unanimously voted to end charging overdue fines; any existing overdue fines on library accounts will be waived. However, the library will still charge for any lost items.
The new policy follows the path of San Mateo County Libraries, which went fine-free at its 12 locations last year. In 2016, the Peninsula Library System eliminated overdue fines for children and teens.
The fine-free movement has been building across the U.S., in part to increase access and community usage of libraries.
“Libraries that have eliminated daily overdue fines have seen increased community usage and have continued to receive returned materials in a timely fashion,” according to city officials.
Fines disproportionately impact low-income residents and people of color, the city added.
While fines will not accumulate for books, DVDs, CDs, audiobooks, and other materials checked out from the Redwood City Public Library, note that is not the case for all library items in the Peninsula Library System.
Customers are still expected to return library materials. Reminders will be sent out and Redwood City Public Library will charge replacement fees if the item is not returned.
