The Vancouver Island Regional Library has eliminated all late fees to ensure equal access to its services.
The library, which has branches in Sidney and Sooke and up-Island communities, is officially fine free as of Jan. 1.
“This decision from our board means more families will have access to reading and educational materials, more seniors will be able to connect with their libraries, and no one will suffer the indignity and embarrassment of punitive fines restricting their ability to read, watch, and listen to the 750,000 physical items in our collection,” said executive director Ben Hyman.
In 2019, the board permanently removed late fees on all children’s materials.
In March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, it suspended late fees on young adult and adult materials. Eighteen months later, at its September 2021 board meeting, the board approved the permanent removal of young adult fines and placed a one-year moratorium on adult fines.
Last fall, the board approved the permanent removal of fines on all adult materials, starting in 2023.
Anyone with existing fines has also had them removed from their accounts as part of this change, said Hyman.
Approximately 150,000 items are checked out across VIRL’s system at any one time.
The library has collected data showing that two-thirds of library materials are returned before the 21-day loan period is up and 98% is returned before 120 days.
Borrowers receive several reminders about the due date. If items are not returned within 120 days — approximately four months — VIRL will charge the replacement cost of the item.
Due dates and late returns are not an issue with digital materials, which now constitute one third of the items borrowed by local residents, said Hyman.
The Greater Victoria Public Library continues to charge late fees on its adult, teen and child materials. A list of fines is on its website.
