Beverly Public Library Drops Fines For Overdue Books

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Public Library stopped collecting fines on overdue books. The change took effect Feb. 1 and comes as other libraries across the country adopt similar policies.

"We want more people to come to the library and we want to eliminate any barriers to service," Anna Langstaff, director of the Beverly Public Library, said in a statement. "Fostering early childhood literacy is one of our core tenets and we want to make sure that young families, some of whom have financial challenges, are not blocked from using our libraries."

The library will continue to issue overdue notices and due date reminders. Patrons who keep materials longer than six weeks past the due date will have borrowing privileges suspended.