No more late fees at the library? How that works for Broward and Miami-Dade users
Libraries have changed through the years.
In addition to the traditional bookshelves, many now offer digital downloads of books, videos and audiobooks. Then there are the curated collections, concerts, art exhibits.
Now, the two biggest library systems in South Florida are changing even more — by what they don’t do anymore.
No more fines for overdue books.
Here’s what to know:
Which libraries no longer have fines for overdue books?
All county-run Miami-Dade and Broward public libraries will no longer make you cough up money if you don’t get your book back on time.
Is this a permanent change at the library?
Fines were periodically forgiven in the past through amnesty days, which were promoted by libraries to get overdue material back in circulation. But this amnesty is now permanent.
Does the new amnesty also include lost or damaged material?
Borrowers will still be responsible for paying for lost or damaged material that needs to be replaced.
As the Miami-Dade library system says on its website: “We are a fine-free library system! Cardholders don’t have to worry about late fees, but will be charged for unreturned, lost or damaged items.”
Does the amnesty apply to digitally downloaded books and audiobooks? What about video games?
For readers who borrow digitally, unless you renew as available, your book or audiobook will get sucked back up into the cloud automatically. So, no fines are necessary with that system of automatic return.
In Miami-Dade County, borrowers of video games still have to pay a fee if they are not returned by the due date.
What about past fines on my account that I still owe?
In Broward, if you owe late fines from the past, they will be forgiven.
Why did libraries decide to eliminate overdue fines?
This is what the Broward library system says about that on its Facebook page:
“By eliminating late fines, we are encouraging adults and children in our community to use library resources and hopefully have a positive impact on their lives. In general, late fines do a poor job of having books returned on time. As late fines accrue, the materials go unreturned and library users just stop using library services. Fines impact low-income families at a much higher rate.”
This story was originally published February 24, 2023 at 12:08 PM.
