As of Wednesday, July 1, Multnomah County Library has stopped charging late fines on library materials. The Library has also waived all current fines and restored access to any account blocked because it had accrued fines over $50.
The change comes as the Library updates its priorities for 2020-21, which have largely been shaped by the impact of COVID-19. These new priorities are particularly focused on serving at-risk and underserved communities, including communities of color, who face higher risks of contracting COVID-19 and worse outcomes.
Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke said late fines have had a disproportionate impact on low-income communities of color, even as growing research shows fines aren’t effective at encouraging patrons to return materials on time.
“Everyone in our community benefits when people can access the materials and resources they need to learn, grow, be creative, and make their lives better for themselves and their families,” Oehlke said. “Ending fines is one way the library is taking immediate action and creating a positive change for our community.”
Waiving current fines will remove a total of $730,185 in debt owed across 72,861 patron accounts. The Library will also restore access to more than 2,000 accounts previously blocked because of fines over $50. Patrons will continue to be billed replacement costs for materials if they are not returned within 49 days of their due date.
Since 2016, the library has gradually relaxed its fine policy, eliminating youth fines and then fines for teachers and educators in 2018. In 2019, the Library collected $548,755 in late fines, the equivalent of just 0.5% of its adopted budget for fiscal year 2021.
Though late fines generate little revenue, their burden on communities can be significant.
“By design, fines for the late return of materials are punitive. In reality, it’s an ineffective practice that creates barriers to using the library that are often permanent for people who already face enormous challenges in their lives,” Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury said. “I can’t imagine a more urgent set of circumstances to make this change immediately and help our community recover from the current health, economic and societal conditions.”
Canceling late fines is part of a larger plan by the Library to better serve marginalized communities while also assisting in the community’s recovery from COVID-19.
On June 25, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved a revised November ballot initiative to fund improvements to the Multnomah County Library system. In addition to the creation of a new “flagship” library in East County and renovations to seven existing libraries, the measure would also enhance current library functions such as tutoring, resume building, career counseling, and job search assistance.
Oehlke said the COVID-19 pandemic has only highlighted the demand for library resources, provided safely and following Public Health guidance.
“They are needed now more than ever,” she said, “to support our community’s recovery.”