Worcester Public Library Eliminates Late Fines

WORCESTER, MA — If you have a Worcester Public Library book that was checked out in the 1970s, you don't have to fear a huge late fee if you return it.

The Worcester City Council on Tuesday approved a plan to eliminate late fines in the city's library system. Worcester is the latest system to go fine-free as more libraries view the fees as a barrier to literacy.

"Public libraries play a vital role in the development of early literacy skills, bridging the digital divide, and providing access to library materials and services our patrons may not have otherwise," WPL said in a statement on the change. "Data clearly shows that late fines are not an effective means of promoting the return of books, and in some cases may actually work against that goal."

There will still be late fines charges on some items, like museum passes, telescopes, and Wi-Fi hotspots. Items that are late by 28 days or longer will be considered lost, and the borrower will be charged to replace them.

Worcester joins other communities in the state in eliminating fines, including Arlington, Gloucester, and Boston (only for people under age 18). The effort is backed by the American Library Association, which passed a resolution at a 2019 meeting encouraging libraries to drop fines as a way to increase patrons and reduce social inequality.

In a letter to City Council about the change, Acting Head Librarian Sulma Rubert-Silva said the financial loss will be small, but "the impact on our patrons, particularly children and low-income individuals, will be immeasurable."