How fitting that as the upcoming Independence Day holiday nears, the Granville County Library System (GCLS) announces that the library is now fine-free. As of July 1, library patrons no longer face overdue fees for items checked out from any library branch.
Fees for lost or damaged items, however, remain in effect, as well as fees for various library services, such as printing and copying fees, according to a press statement from Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood.
The Library Board of Trustees and the County Board of Commissioners chose to implement this new policy based on successful programs in large and small library systems across the United States that did away with library overdue fees. Library systems that eliminated late fees have noted an increase in library use, a decrease in overdue items in their collections, and have noted through testimonials from library patrons how meaningful it was to not have previous late fees, or the fear of future fees, impede their use and enjoyment of the public library.
“Going fine-free helps remove barriers to library access,” said Library Director Will Robinson. “This policy has been successful across the country, and we want to make sure that all Granville County residents know they are welcomed at their library,” Robinson said.
He added that he and his staff don’t want children to have the lasting image of the library as an unfriendly place associated with debt.
“It is especially disheartening to know that these families accrue debt that was caused simply by wanting to enjoy books and the other resources that libraries offer. We can open a lot of doors to learning and enrichment when our residents feel like the library is a welcoming, inclusive environment,” Robinson said.
For more information about resources and programs offered by GCLS, visit https://granville.lib.nc.us/ or any of the branches in Oxford, Berea, Stovall or Creedmoor.