Shaker Library Goes Fine Free October 1, 2019

On October 1, 2019 Shaker Library will become a fine-free library. At its July meeting, the Library Board of Trustees voted to eliminate fines on overdue books and material making Shaker Library one of 15 CLEVNET libraries that have eliminated fines, including neighboring Cleveland Heights-University Heights, and Cleveland Public libraries.

According to Library Board President Brian Gleisser, “The Board is always looking for better ways to serve our community. By no longer charging fines, we hope to make the Library an even more welcoming space for all. And eliminating fines builds on the Library’s previously successful initiative of removing fines on children’s material back in 2006.”

During the past year, library staff studied the impact of overdue fines and found very little evidence that charging fines has any effect on the timely return of library material. In fact, the experience of libraries that eliminated fines suggests that without the threat of an overdue fine, cardholders are more likely to bring items back.

Research also indicated that Library fines present barriers and actually deter people from using the Library. This barrier to access falls disproportionately on lower-income families who rely on the library. Eliminating fines can increase usage by those who might be disenfranchised because they lack the money to pay. Additionally, the American Library Association has called upon public libraries to remove “all barriers to library and information services, particularly fees and overdue charges." Many library systems across North America have gone fine free in order to reduce access barriers. The Urban Libraries Council has created an interactive map to help readers understand and learn from libraries that have gone fine free.

Revenue from fines is less than one half of 1% of the library’s operating budget. Decreased administrative costs for fine management, savings realized by having to purchase fewer replacements for unreturned and missing items, as well as revenue from the Library’s passport services more than offset the nominal revenue loss.

Eliminating fines does not eliminate cardholders’ responsibilities for the items they check out. If an item is not returned within a designated amount of time past the due date, cardholders are billed for the cost of the item. When they return the item, that charge is removed from their accounts. The focus is on having library material returned for others to use, not on punishing cardholders. The Library encourages those with overdue library items to bring them back—no questions asked!

The Library’s mission is to strengthen our community and transform lives by bringing together people, information, and ideas. According to Library Director Amy Switzer, “This is the kind of policy change that profoundly affects access for our community and I’m proud to be a part of inviting more of our community to use the library. Our community is strengthened when everyone has free and open access.”