Late fine free: what does that mean?

Starting September 1, 2022, the library will stop charging late fines on all library materials. The library started eliminating late fines for children’s books in 2019. With the success of that project, the library board made the decision to remove late fines for all patrons. If you haven’t been to the library in a while because you were worried about late fines, come see us. If you think your account is expired, bring a photo id and proof of address, and we can see what we can do to clear up your account.

It is important to note that library materials will still need to either be renewed or returned with 21 days of checkout. If you return your items a few days late, no worries. If an item is overdue 28 days past its last due date, the Evergreen Indiana system assumes it is lost and the full cost of the item is charged to your account. Accounts with lost item fees won’t be able to borrow materials. When those items are returned, the lost item fees are removed. If you have lost or damaged items, ask to speak to a supervisor at the main circulation desk and see what your options are.

If you have not returned or paid for the item after receiving your bill, you may be referred to a collection agency and be charged a collection fee on top of the fees for the library materials themselves. The bottom-line is that we want the library materials back. Because the library wants to be a good steward of taxpayer funds, it is important that we enforce compensation for lost or damaged library materials.

The library provides you with courtesy notices to remind you when your items are due, but it is your responsibility to keep track of your items and return them to the library in a timely manner. It’s important that the library has your correct email address, phone number, and home address so you can receive your notices.

There are many ways to keep track of your library items. Call the library circulation desk at 765-529-0362 ext. 1341 or ask at any circulation desk and we can look up your account. You can access your Evergreen account on a computer or download the Evergreen Indiana app to your phone or tablet. You can also access your account on our new self-checkout machines.

 

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