Harlem Librarygoers To Benefit From End Of Late Fees, Data Shows

HARLEM, NY — New York's public library systems made waves this week by announcing it was abolishing late fines for overdue materials — and Harlem patrons will benefit from the change more than most, according to library data.

The city's three library systems said Tuesday that they were forever ending fines for overdue books and materials, and also waiving outstanding debts. Before this week, about 400,000 New Yorkers had their library cards blocked because they had built up more than $15 in fines.

Library leaders framed the policy change in equity terms: residents of low-income neighborhoods made up more than half of the blocked-card total.

That pattern holds in Harlem, one of Manhattan's lowest-income areas. In Harlem's seven library branches, the percentage of patrons whose cards were blocked ranged between 12.4 and 19.1 percent, according to data provided by the New York Public Library.

The system's average blocked-card rate is 11 percent per branch, according to the NYPL, which covers Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island.

Here's the breakdown for each Harlem library branch, ranked by the percentage of their patrons whose cards were blocked before this week:

• 125th Street Library: 19.1 percent
• Countee Cullen Library: 17.9 percent
• Harlem Library: 15.9 percent
• Macomb's Bridge Library: 15.7 percent
• Aguilar Library: 15.1 percent
• George Bruce Library: 14 percent
• Harry Belafonte-115th Street Library: 12.4 percent

With the combined systems of the NYPL and the Brooklyn and Queens public libraries, New York is now the largest city in the country to do away with late charges. Other cities including Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle and San Francisco have also recently done away with fines, and seen little increase in lost materials, according to library officials.

"During the pandemic, it was clearer than ever that we live in a Tale of Two Cities, with our most vulnerable citizens too often left behind," NYPL president Anthony W. Marx said in a statement. "We must work to ensure that we are adhering to our mission of making knowledge and opportunity available to all, and that means addressing late fines."

Younger library patrons also bore the brunt of late fines. About 30 percent of blocked accounts citywide belonged to people 17 and under, including 65 percent in Queens, according to the libraries.

The three New York City systems have slightly differing rules, but all have eliminated late fines. Patrons will still have to pay replacement fees if a book or other material is out for longer than a month — however, if they return it that fee will be waived.

Cards can still be blocked if patrons accrue replacement fines, but still can access computers, e-books and other digital services, officials said.

Have a Harlem news tip? Email reporter Nick Garber at nick.garber@patch.com.

Patch reporter Matt Troutman contributed.

Related coverage: All NYC Libraries End Late Fines, Waive Old Fees