Community Corner
Marin County Free Library Waiving Late Fees
Library fines for adults are waived through January.
MARIN COUNTY, CA – The Marin County Free Library is granting adults amnesty on fees for overdue books and other library materials through January.
Adult library members get a "clean slate" until Jan. 31. The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved the amnesty plan this week.
The Marin County Free Library is offering the amnesty to thank its supporters. Fines for youth materials were eliminated a few years ago to reduce barriers to library use.
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The amnesty does not affect policies in city libraries in Marin County and applies only to the 10 Marin County Free Library branches.
MCFL director Sara Jones said staff hopes to retrieve long-lost materials that are no longer being published.
Find out what's happening in San Rafaelfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"This kind of policy is used by lots of public libraries across the country, and there is trusted documentation to prove it increases the sustained use of the library," Jones said.
Existing fines are 25 cents per item per day and lending services are suspended after the fines reach $10.
The loss of fines and fee revenue will be absorbed in the current budget, library officials said.
By City News Service
Image via Marin County
