Library Fines to Become Thing of the Past in Clallam County

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) – The North Olympic Library System has eliminating fines for overdue books and other materials, joining a host of other libraries that have already made the move.

The Clallam County regional library’s Board of Trustees voted 5-0 last week to eliminate overdue fines at its public libraries in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay.

The fine-free policy takes effect Sept. 1.

Library Director Margaret Jakubcin told the Peninsula Daily News the primary reason for eliminating fines is that fines “create barriers” to service.

The American Library Association passed a resolution in January that described monitory fines as a “form of social inequity.”

Jakubcin says libraries in Jefferson, Clark, Snohomish, Island, Kitsap, Franklin, Benton, Adams, Spokane, Whatcom and King counties are among those that have gone or are in the process of going fine-free.
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Information from: Peninsula Daily News, http://www.peninsuladailynews.com