SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The city's library director said Wednesday she is proposing the elimination of fines for overdue library books in an effort to restore access to literacy resources in low-income communities, where as many as 57 percent of cardholders have been barred from checking out books because of outstanding bills.
The problem with fines doesn't end with equity issues.
The San Diego Public Library spends more than $1 million each year in staff time and other costs to collect about $700,000 in late fees. And the fines are ineffective in changing the behavior of those who have failed to return the 296,000 books, DVDs and other library items currently overdue -- otherwise there would be no overdue items, Library Director Misty Jones told the City Council's Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee.
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