San Leandro waives outstanding library fines

SAN LEANDRO >> San Leandro Public Library patrons who might procrastinate on returning borrowed items are getting some good news — the system no longer will assess overdue fines.

The City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the change, as well as allowing the library to do a one-time overdue fine amnesty and waive outstanding fees.

The new policy takes effect immediately.

The idea behind the change is that by eliminating overdue fines, people no longer will face a financial barrier to using the libraries, making them more accessible and equitable for everyone.

Eliminating overdue fines has become a nationwide trend for libraries. Berkeley also has eliminated fines, as well as Oakland, Hayward, Alameda and other local systems, including both Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Library members in San Leandro, however, still will be expected to return library materials on time and will be billed for lost or damaged items.

Along with scrapping fines, the council also removed the library’s fee card policy, which will open up San Leandro library card memberships for all current California residents who apply for one.

The fee card policy, which dates to the 1940s, has been an especially consistent access barrier for residents of the nearby unincorporated

Ashland neighborhood, according to Paul Sanftner, a city spokesman.

“The focus of all libraries is to provide free equitable access to its community, which means free, fair and impartial use of our resources and services,” Bill Sherwood, acting library director, said in a statement. “Eliminating these two policies will allow our library system to provide more equitable access, and I hope you will join me in celebrating these historic changes and the library staff that made it happen.”

More information can be found at sanleandrolibrary. org, or email Circulation@ sanleandro.org or call the library reference line at 510577-3971.