JANESVILLE — The Hedberg Public Library board in Janesville announced at its most recent meeting that the library will be going fine-free as of Sept. 1, 2024.
The library’s leadership team is currently developing policies and procedures to support the board’s decision, according to a social media post from Wednesday.
The policy will address late fines and fees, not replacement fees for lost materials.
Patrons may start noticing changes to their library accounts while we work through the logistics of the new process.
Among the reasons for the change:
Fines contribute one percent or less to the library’s revenue.
One study the library looked at showed that books actually were returned quicker after fines were eliminated.
Roughly a quarter of Hedberg Public Library’s patrons can no longer check out books because of excessive unpaid fines.
Libraries see about 40 percent more youth users after fines have been eliminated.
