SuppliedLike many, I have been a victim of the Edmonton Public Library’s (EPL) fine system more than once. Thankfully, library late fees are no more.
Right when I turned 18, I got my first library card. I took out over 20 books from the library. I really don’t know how I thought I could read all of those in the allotted three weeks, but I’m nothing if not overly ambitious. All of the sudden, the due dates flew by and I forgot to return every single book. Anxiously, I checked the EPL app to see how bad the damage was. Newsflash: it was terrible. I owed over $50 in late fees. Now, you might be wondering, “how did you face the librarians with 20 overdue books and $50 in overage charges?” I didn’t, I just sent my boyfriend in to deal with it for me.
While my story is extreme, many people have faced unruly late fees. No matter how hard we try, we just can’t remember to return our books on time. I love the library as much as the next person, but it’s just not the same when you owe them tons of money. Now, that’s no longer a problem.
Beginning June 11, 2020, EPL removed all fines from overdue books. Now, patrons have three weeks to read their books, and 30 days past the due date before it’s marked lost and charged a replacement fee.
While I wholeheartedly support donating to your local library, it does seem a little unfair to pay for books you’re going to return. Especially those that you simply forgot about for a couple days.
Removing fines entirely isn’t just beneficial to forgetful students; people experiencing homelessness or poverty often frequent libraries because they’re so accessible. While most people forget to take their books back in time, the old fining system harshly punished those who deserved it the least. I can afford to pay hefty fees every few weeks, but many can’t.
Additionally, removing daily fines allows people a grace period to return their books. With less stress surrounding library due dates, people have more time to enjoy the books they took out. Now, you won’t have to worry about reading that gigantic book you took out on a whim in under three weeks.
Libraries are meant to be free and accessible for everyone. With their no-fine rule, Edmonton Public Libraries finally are. If you know someone who is capable of racking up $50 in debt to a library, you can rest easy knowing that this is no longer possible.
