Wilton Library Forced to Change Its Fee Structure

Change is coming at the Wilton Library.

Use of our books, magazines, DVDs and CDs has sky-rocketed in recent months. At the same time, and for the past couple of years, we have noticed that folks are becoming very casual about the due dates associated with the items they borrow. Indeed, many have become casual about returning items at all.   

The net result of these trends is that we have fewer resources to offer the community - a community that needs us more than ever in these difficult economic times. The forces of fiscal restraint and rising costs mean that we cannot simply buy more copies of items in demand.    

Starting October 1st, we will tighten up our lending policies in hopes that more patrons will become responsible borrowers.  On that date, the late fee for materials will increase from 10 cents to 25 cents per day.  Exceptions are DVDs (remaining at $2 per day) and Kindles & Museum Passes (remaining at $5 per day) and KillAWatts (remaining at $1 per day).  At the same time, we will begin to suspend borrowing privileges for those who owe the Library $10 or more, restoring service only when the balance has been brought below that amount.  

We regret that these changes have become necessary.  It has been over ten years since we increased late fees and almost that long since we lowered the fee cap on accounts.  Still, our regret is tempered by the fact that no one need incur late fees at all.  There are many ways to avoid them:  

• Sign up for Library ELF to receive free email notices of due dates on all of your family's accounts, along with alerts when your holds/reserves are ready to be picked up.
• Call 203-762-3950 x213 to renew materials before the due date.
• Access your account online to request renewals of items before their due date.  You will need your Library barcode and the last 4 digits of your phone number.
• Return items when the Library is closed by using the big blue book bin in our front parking lot. Return them at the drive-thru window on Godfrey Place to save yourself time when the Library is open.

As always, our staff will be happy to show you how to sign up or log on or answer any questions you may have about your Library account. 

We need your help. With it we'll continue to be a Library that offers excellent service to our entire community.

Sincerely,

Kathy Leeds

Executive Director

Wilton Library Association