New York Public Library to waive late fees
New York City’s three library
systems — New
York Public Library,
Brooklyn Public Library
and Queens Public
Library — will no longer be
charging late fines on books
and other circulating materials,
eliminating a barrier to
access and ensuring that all
New Yorkers, especially those
in low income neighborhoods,
have free and open access to
knowledge and opportunity.
All prior late fees from patron
accounts have been cleared
allowing New Yorkers a clean
slate. Combined, this is the
biggest system in the country
to eliminate fines.
In an effort to welcome
patrons back, or to libraries
for the fi rst time, NYPL,
BPL and QPL will be hosting
a week of giveaways and special
programs at all branch
locations beginning on Monday,
Oct. 18-Saturday, Oct.
23. During that week, New
Yorkers are encouraged to
stop by, reconnect with their
local libraries, check out materials,
and return anything
they may have at home —
fi ne free.
While the details are
slightly different per system,
generally, the new fi ne-free
policies are:
New Yorkers of all ages
will no longer need to pay
any late fees on overdue materials.
In the past, library cards
were blocked if they accrued
$15 or more in fi nes;
that will no longer be the
case.
New Yorkers will still
need to pay replacement fees
if they lose materials. Materials
are considered lost after
being overdue for about
one month. If materials are
returned, however, no fees
will apply.
Cards will be blocked
from borrowing additional
physical materials if patrons
accrue replacement fees
(thresholds differ per system);
note that even with a
block on their cards, patrons
can still access computers, ebooks,
and other digital services.
For more information go
to the individual systems
websites: nypl.org, bklynlibrary.
org, and queenslibrary.
org.
Below are some borough
New Plans
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, O 64 CT. 15-21, 2021 BTR
specifi c stats. Patrons
with fi nes (total
number and percentage of
all cardholders in the borough)
Bronx 130,000, 31%
Manhattan 205,000, 25%
Staten Island, 30,000, 30%
“Blocked” patrons total
and percentage of all cardholders
in the borough:
Bronx 67,000, 16%
Manhattan 64,000, 8%
Staten Island 13,000, 13%
Below are the branches
citywide with the highest
percentage of blocked
cards:
Stone Avenue (East New
York), Brooklyn–24%
Morrisania, Bronx–22.5%
Baisley Park,
Queens–20.2%
Arverne, Queens–19.98%
Sedgwick, Bronx–19.9%
Tremont, Bronx–19.8%
Far Rockaway,
Queens–19.39%
125th Street, Manhattan–
19.1%
South Jamaica,
Queens–18.96%
New Lots, Brooklyn–
18.8%
-Bronx Times
In an effort to welcome patrons back, or to libraries for the fi rst time,
New York Public Library will be hosting a week of giveaways and special
programs at all branch locations beginning Oct. 18-Oct. 23, 2021. Photo
courtesy Getty Images
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