The Pioneer Library System is turning a new page with a change its communities can celebrate: the elimination of fines for all ages on overdue materials.
As of December 1, a onetime amnesty of all existing late fines has taken place to start a clean slate for all adult library accounts.
The change in fines affects overdue, or late materials, with fees remaining for unreturned and damaged items, to help the library maintain its collections. Digital checkouts do not accrue fines.
“We are more than excited tojoincountlessotherlibraries in Oklahoma and across North America that have made this equitable change,” said Aiden Street, director of Community Engagement and Learning at PLS. “At PLS, our goal is to create positiveexperiencesforour customers. That means we are always looking for ways to reduce barriers and encourage customers to make use of their libraries.”
PLS has enjoyed a long history of reducing barriers to library access in its communities, which includes the Newcastle Library. Recent improvements include the My-Card, introduced in 2015, an option that enables children and teens without a full-service card to check out a limited number of youth materials. It was in 2017 that the library system announced automatic renewals on eligible overdue items, with fines on all youth materials being eliminated the following year.
With nearly 10% of households in the PLS service area living below the poverty level, this newest change will help maintain access to materials and information for many families.
“Just the idea of incurring a late fee is enough to deter some from using the library altogether,” Street said. “Now people can take full advantage of all the great offerings at the library without feeling they have lost access due to an overdue fine.”
Founded in 1958, PLS today offers full-access libraries in 10 communities throughout McClain, Cleveland and Pottawatomie counties, as well as additional access locations in smaller communities and outreach services including Business Services and the PLS Mobile Maker Lab.
For more information about PLS and its services, and to browse now fine-free materials, visit pioneerlibrarysystem. org.
