Garden City Library Cutting Late Fees In Half Starting June 1

GARDEN CITY, NY — If you need a few extra days with the library book you're reading or movie you've been meaning to watch, feel free to take it. The Garden City Public Library announced that it will be cutting all late fees in half starting June 1.

The library's Board of Trustees recently voted to cut all fees in half going forward. In addition, there will be a late fee amnesty period: all late materials returned between June 5 and 11 will not be charged. So if you have something that's way overdue, that's the time to return it. Payment for lost or damaged items, or patrons’ unpaid overdue fines from prior returns, will be reduced in half during the same period.

The library said that reducing late fees is a growing trend among public libraries on Long Island. The goal is to get people to return materials, rather than block access to media.

Starting June 1, all 25 cent daily fines for books will be reduced to 10 cents; all $2 per day fines on media (DVDs, CDs, video games, etc.) will be reduced to $1 per day; and Museum Pass late fines will be reduced from $20 to $10 per day (though the next patron admission charge will remain in effect, if applicable).

“The trend of libraries nationally has been to reduce fines and offer windows of amnesty. This effort is implemented to welcome people back and introduce them to the many services libraries now provide,” Library Board Chairman J. Randolph Colahan said. “The Library Board, administration and staff hope this happens for Garden City residents.”