Page turned on late book fines
BOOKWORMS afraid to pop into the library because of overdue novels lurking on the shelf at home can breathe a sigh of relief.
North Tyneside Council is doing away with late fees across all its libraries from December 1 in the hope of encouraging more people to borrow books.
The “amnesty” will also see all historic fines cancelled – meaning anyone with a long-overdue book can return it with nothing to pay.
Councillor Sandra Graham, who oversees libraries at North Tyneside Council, said: “Fines have been standard practice in public libraries for more than a century, originally to get people to return books on time.
“Without a fine, it was thought there would be nothing to stop people returning books late – or never – which would prevent other people from reading them.
“Removing fines will allow us to remove financial barriers to the use of libraries, encouraging greater use, particularly for
those who have the least opportunities to access books in other ways, and supporting literacy and learning in our borough.”
Coun Graham said as the council promotes the use of its libraries as spaces for people to keep warm this winter she wants to give “a little extra help for people during these tough times.”
The reform comes as it was recently reported one man returned a book to a library in Coventry after 84 years.
Red Deer, by Richard Jefferies, was taken out from Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library in 1938 and was returned by the reader’s grandson more than eight decades later – incurring a fine of £18.27!