You're no fine, and you're mine

PRPL may have been the first library in BC to ditch fines, making it the best at leading a crucial pro-literacy trend

BY NATALIE PORTER

Removing fines from overdue library materials is trending across BC libraries, but here in Powell River we are ahead of the movement.

In 2016, PRPL started the process with Fine Forgiveness where as long as an item was renewed or returned in good condition, any fee that had accumulated would be wiped from a library patron’s card. PRPL understood that books can disappear under the bed, they get left in a locker at school, or are forgotten during a move, and then a patron is convinced that they can’t come back to the library. And yet, borrowing privileges were still blocked once $10 of fines were accumulated.

PRPL took it a step further during the early days of the pandemic in April of 2020, by going fine-free where fines were no longer accumulating, and removing the ‘privilege block’ that might result in a family avoiding the library. It was initially a temporary decision, to help ease conditions for the community, but as of January 2021 this policy has been permanent.

The Library Board understood what a barrier these fines and blocks were, and the fact that only 1% of PRPL’s revenue was accounted for by the fines. A donation box is still available at the Service Desk for those who are so inclined, but there’s absolutely no requirement.

Initially, there was a fear that library materials would stop coming back and that our holds lists and waiting periods would jump. This did not happen and for the most part our library patrons are very respectful and understand the purpose, which is sharing! While damaged and lost copies can still trigger a replacement fine, to cover the costs of purchasing and processing, Library staff are still willing to negotiate as we’ve all been there!

For example, if a book is chewed by a dog, dropped in a bath tub or left in a plane we’ll need to arrange a fee, but hopefully those circumstances are exceptional.

Chief Librarian Rebecca Burbank stated that, “It has been overwhelmingly good if for no other reason than our customer interactions are improved and we aren’t strong-arming patrons into giving us their cash. Our staff are proud of our workplace because of this initiative and our patrons are generally thrilled to be told that they can donate their money on their terms.”

PRPL wants to continue to be a welcoming place, and removing fines makes daily interactions between staff and patrons much more positive.

Editor’s note: To much acclaim, the Vancouver Public Library dropped fines on June 1. While the BC Libraries Association doesn’t know how many libraries are fine-free, they could confirm that the PRPL was either the first or among the first in BC to ditch fines.

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