LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bookworms and library lovers in Louisville can rejoice after the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) announced the elimination of overdue fines for good starting July 1.
What You Need To Know
- Louisville Free Public Library has eliminated overdue fines
- Officials said the use of fines often creates a barrier to library services, affecting those who need access the most
- Fines for overdue and lost books generate just $225,000 a year—about 1% of the overall library budget
- Library items not returned will still result in a patron being billed for the replacement cost and blocked from additional checkouts until the items are returned or paid for
Mayor Greg Fischer, Library Director Lee Burchfield and members of the Shawnee neighborhood celebrated the move on Thursday.
LFPL officially joins library systems across the country who recognize that fines statistically don't ensure the return of borrowed materials. They often create a barrier to library services that disproportionately affects the people who need that access the most.
“Libraries are foundational to our city’s core value of lifelong learning, and access to these resources is vital to increasing opportunity and advancing racial equity, a focus of the budget we’re implementing today,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Our new budget is a roadmap into a promising and exciting next stage of our city’s history – one based in greater equity, justice and opportunity. I’m thankful for the partnership of Metro Council, and for our Library team for making these changes a reality.”
While the policy change eliminates overdue fines, officials said library items not returned will still result in a patron being billed for the replacement cost and blocked from additional checkouts until the items are returned or paid for.
Fines for overdue and lost books generate just $225,000 a year—about 1% of the overall library budget. LFPL officials expect the elimination of fines will lead to the return of more library materials, reducing the need for and associated costs of repurchasing lost items.
"All late fees really do is penalize people who can’t afford to pay the fines and then cut them off from accessing library services," said Director Burchfield. “By going fine free we are welcoming back to the Library thousands of people across our community – providing them equal access to the tools and knowledge that can help them reach their fullest potential.”
Although LFPL had temporarily suspended assessment of overdue fines during the pandemic, this new budget makes the change official. In addition, the Library will remove all pre-existing overdue fines from patron accounts, restoring much needed access to thousands of people throughout the community.
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