COURT HOUSE – Cape May County Public Library system is pleased to announce the elimination of overdue fines for children and teen materials.
The change increases access to books and materials for younger patrons. “Our goal is to make the library available to all children and teens,” stated Deborah Poillon, library director. “Removing the barriers that block checking out materials encourages reading and encourages the use of the library’s many resources.”
Studies show that most materials are returned within a week of the due date, whether or not fines are charged. Several reminder notices will be sent to encourage timely returns. If items are not returned in 42 days, they will be considered lost. Lost or damaged fees for children and teen materials can now be read away – a popular program that takes off $2 for every 15 minutes that a child or teen reads at the library.
Many libraries in Ohio, Colorado, Massachusetts, Vermont, California, New Jersey, and New York have successfully implemented the no-fines policy.
Eliminating fines on children’s materials will not have a significant impact on the library’s budget, as those fines represent less than one percent of its budget. The library believes the move will have a positive impact on the number of children and families who use the library.
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