New York City public libraries get rid of late fi nes
BY HAEVEN GIBBONS
New York City’s three public library
systems announced Oct. 5 that
they will no longer charge late fi nes
on books and other circulating materials.
The Brooklyn Public Library, New York
Public Library and Queens Public Library
have become the latest and largest public
library systems to eliminate late fi nes,
which have been in place since the three
systems were created at the turn of the 20th
century.
“This announcement is another major
step towards making our public libraries,
the heart of so many communities, accessible
to all,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a
press release from New York City’s three
public library systems. “Eliminating fi nes
will let us serve even more New Yorkers,
allowing them to enjoy all of the resources
and programs that public libraries offer to
grow and succeed.”
The change addresses an accessibility
issue and follows action by other big cities
including SanFrancisco, Chicago, Philadelphia,
Miami-Dade, Seattle, San Diego and
Dallas who have also nixed late fi nes.
“The San Diego Public Library system,
which went fi ne-free in 2018, reported an
8% increase in library card sign-ups, a 4%
Simone Wilson and her daughter work at the Aguilar Library. While they have
not been personally affected by late fees, they know it is a problem for many.
increase in circulation, and no increase in
lost items (the number remained at about
2%),” the release said. “Director Misty
Jones noted that many children and teens
got their fi rst library cards without the
fear of fi nes, and many formerly blocked
patrons came back.”
In the past, library cards were blocked
if they accrued $15 or more in fi nes. This
PHOTO BY HAEVEN GIBBONS
will no longer be the case as New Yorkers
of all ages will no longer need to pay any
late fi nes on overdue materials.
At the time of the announcement, about
400,000 New Yorkers, more than half in
high-need communities, had their cards
blocked for accruing more than $15 in
fi nes, according to the release. High needs
communities are those where the median
household income is below $50,000.
Megayo Lebene and his third grade son
spend about an hour at the Aguilar Library
in East Harlem on most weekdays. Lebene
works part-time, goes to school full-time
and is a father. He has turned in books
late in the past, not because he forgot to
return them but because he did not have
time between school, work and taking care
of his family to get to the library on time to
make the return.
Lebene’s library card was blocked because
he did not have the money to pay the
late fees. He was unable to check out books
for him and his son.
“The kids would be like, ‘Mommy and
Daddy I want to read,’ and we’d have to say
“we can’t,” and that’s sad,” Lebene said.
“You don’t want kids to go to the house
and just sit and watch TV. That’s not a good
thing.”
Lebene said the new policy is a good
thing because he wants his kids to be able
to have something to read at home and not
just be looking at a phone or TV screen all
the time. He said the policy will also help
people who use the library who do not have
jobs or the money to cover things such as
late fees.
“It’s more convenient for everybody,”
Lebene said.
14 October 7, 2021 Schneps Media