Time to farewell late book fines
Photo by John Kirk-Anderson/Stuff
Library book fines for late return were designed to encourage people to return their books on time - but they don't work and have had unintended consequences. Many people are choosing not to use our wonderful libraries just in case something happens and they return a book late and get a fine - and some simply cannot afford to.
My first foray into local politics was after the earthquakes when I learned that our volunteer community library was to be demolished, never to return. I was not happy and set to working out what had gone on... a protest, lots of paperwork hunting and a presentation to Council later and we got to keep our library - abet a rebuilt one. Here's an article from the time: Heathcote library demolition to be halted | Stuff.co.nz
In July 2021 I found out that Auckland City was joining a growing movement to get rid of late book fines, so I contacted them to find out the background - and was quickly convinced that we needed to do the same.
In November I put a Notice of Motion to Council - asking for a report to Council with the information needed to make a decision on doing the same as Auckland... and by then Dunedin too. Selwyn and Waimakariri, Nelson and others have already taken the step too.
After the first Press article I was contacted by many people who had had really bad experiences and I shared on on my Facebook page - 2 children limited in their book borrowing because their mother had a $58 fine - even though her books had been returned. Full story below.
The report will be coming on 27 January 2022 and I'm really looking forward to making this small step towards making our city a more equitable and inclusive place.
Here's some coverage of the issue:
Policy of overdue library fines only deprives the disadvantaged, say critics | Stuff.co.nz
Council moves closer to abolishing overdue library fines | Stuff.co.nz
Library fines are a barrier to free information | Stuff.co.nz
UPDATE 27 Jan 2022: Success! Late fines will disappear from 1 March 2022, opening access for nearly 30 000 residents who currently have blocked cards and to those put off getting books out 'just in case'.
Overdue library fines shelved permanently in Christchurch | Stuff.co.nz
Email sent to me by a resident:
"Hi Sara, I'm so pleased to see you raising this issue. I recently returned my library books 8 days late. I'm in the middle of [a family crisis] and I missed some emails from the library. Now, they've put the debt collectors onto me for $58.60 and limited my daughters' accounts to 2 books each until I pay. My daughters are 11 and 14 and it makes me so sad that the library has rejected them when they need it the most. I did try once to pay my fine online but that isn't a service the library offers. it's hard to get into a physical library with work hours.
I didn't find out until I was at the library with miss 11. We had chosen special books and went up to check them out. I found that my account was blocked. Then miss 11 found hers was limited. We went to the counter to find out what was going on and that was when we found out that they had limited her account too when she had done NOTHING wrong. It was heartbreaking watching her return her specially selected books. What kind of library would do that to a young child who is keen to read?
When I questioned the library on their policy of punishing children for their parents mistakes, they said that they did it "on behalf of ratepayers". That they did it to stop parents (whose account has been blocked) checking out books using their children's accounts. But doesn't this really only punish the innocent children? The children who possibly need the library the most as a place of safety and escapism?
I don't have $58.60 spare. How many Christchurch children currently have their accounts limited because of mistakes their parents have made? It's a disgrace that they did this to her "on behalf of ratepayers" What are we teaching our children with this policy?"
(Permission was given for me to share this story.)
