Library Fines May Go Away In Denver Starting In 2019

DENVER, CO – How do you get more people house the library? The Denver Public Library and the City of Denver think getting rid of overdue fines will be one of the new city budget's “small items that can make a big difference in people’s lives,” Mayor Michael Hancock's office said.

According to the new proposed budget, the change, starting Jan. 1, 2019, would cost the library system about $200,000 in revenue, which is used to buy new materials, but supporters believe it will draw more users into the library. Patrons would be asked to replace an item when it's a month overdue. There are already no fines on children's and young adult books.

“Eliminating overdue fines is paramount to providing equitable access for all customers,” City Librarian Michelle Jeske said in a statement. “Too often, fines penalize the most vulnerable families and individuals who can least afford them."

Across Colorado, libraries have been reconsidering the fines system since the 2008 recession, when more people began to use the library. Some library branches quietly didn't collect or had fine forgiveness policies while others eliminated fines, or held amnesty days to return overdue items.

Research shows that getting rid of overdue fines can have "a dramatic effect of bringing back customers," the library said in a statement. Getting rid of library fines has worked in other U.S. cities recently, including Salt Lake City and Baltimore.

In Denver, the money from the library's overdue fines is dumped in the city's General Fund. In 2017, fines generated $110,339.

The library will suspend customer accounts if an item is long overdue, they said.

“Research does not support the notion that fines result in significant improvement in the return of materials,” Jeske said. “It is important for us focus our efforts on creating value for customers in the form of access and programs and we can utilize staff time more efficiently by eliminating fines.”

The Denver Public Library said they will launch a public information campaign in early 2019 to inform customers and the community about the change.

As for the Denver Public Library, the focus is on being as welcoming as possible for the most vulnerable who need their services, Jeske said.

"We want to... get community members back into our buildings to use materials that enhance their quality of life and education.”

Image via Shutterstock

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