No Library fees for some late returns

Late fees will no longer be charged on materials turned in after the due date to the Rock County Library.
Library director Calla Jarvie made the policy change announcement May 15.
“As of today there will no longer be late fees for books, audiobooks and music CDs,” she said.
The length of the borrowing period was also lengthened from two to three weeks.
The new late fee policy doesn’t apply to old fines, but until May 31 individuals can ask for the accrued late fees to be waived.
“Patrons just have to come in and talk to us or give us a call, and we can waive their late fees, excluding DVD fees and lost item fees,” she said.
About 250 checkouts occur daily from the library located on Main Street Luverne. Of that amount, about 83 of those items will come back after the due date.
Late fee penalties are 10 cents per day.
“My entire library philosophy revolves around eliminating barriers,” Jarvie said. “Fines on books are a barrier to library access, and we are not interested in punishing people who use the library.”
Young families, day care providers and teachers were the most affected clientele by the previous late fee policy.
“If they check out 50 picture books and they are a day late, that’s $5 right away,” Jarvie said. “We are not in the business of making money — we are in the business of providing resources to the community.”
Of the materials checked out each month, only one or two of the items are actually lost. The patron checking out the item will still have to pay for the replacement, Jarvie said.
Notification of late items will still take place through email or a phone call from a staff member.
The borrowing period was lengthened in response to today’s lifestyle.
“It’s tough to get a book done in two weeks with busy schedules, especially if you have a stack of books to get through,” Jarvie said.
The maximum borrowing length is now a combined nine weeks.
DVDs, however, can only be borrowed for one week and are still subject to the $1 per day late fee.
The Wi-Fi hotspots, a new item at the library, are also available for checkout for two weeks and are subject to the $1 per day late fee.