Library fines for overdue books are set to become a thing of the past in North Tyneside.
Starting in December, customers will no longer be asked to pay a fine if they return their books later than the due date.
An amnesty on late fees will see library users handed a clean slate and all historic fines being cancelled from 1st December, meaning anyone with a long overdue book can return it with nothing to pay. To celebrate this early Christmas present, the council is offering vouchers for its sport and leisure centres as a prize for the most overdue library book in North Tyneside.
The council hopes the initiative will encourage more people to frequent their local library to borrow books - and return overdue ones - and that libraries will be more inclusive and accessible for everyone. Users can already access free e-books, e-Audiobooks and e-Magazines without fear of being fined through the council’s digital library, BorrowBox.
The move complements the council’s Warm Welcome sessions, in which residents are invited to use libraries and Customer First Centres as safe and warm places this winter.
Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member with responsibility for libraries, said: “Fines have been standard practise in public libraries for more than a century, originally to get people to return books on time. Without a fine, it was thought that there would be nothing to stop people returning books late - or never - which would prevent other people from reading them.
“Removing fines will allow us to remove financial barriers to the use of libraries, encouraging greater use, particularly for those who have the least opportunities to access books in other ways, and supporting literacy and learning in our borough.
“In the current economic climate, when we are promoting our libraries as warm spaces for people to spend time in to save money, we believe it is the ideal time to remove our library fines and offer a little extra help for people during these tough times.
“For those customers who haven’t been to a library for a while it’s also a chance to see how much our offer has changed with things like free Wi-Fi, free access to ancestry websites and free use of computers. There are also lots of activities taking place all year round for all ages.”
The move by North Tyneside Council follows a national trend towards scrapping fines, with around 60 authorities around the UK having done so since 2018.
