NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The New Orleans Public Library announced that the library is eliminating fines, opening a new chapter for accessible reading.
NOPL officials said the library board approved the new policy on March 12.
In 2019, the library eliminated fines for youth materials “in an effort to remove economic obstacles for New Orleans youth.”
The library suspended fines on all overdue items in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Executive Director and city librarian Emily Painton said eliminating fines has not impacted the library’s operating budget nor resulted in fewer items being returned.
“We’ve been effectively operating without fines for almost four years with no adverse effects to our budget or circulation,” Painton said. “Studies show that the threat of fines often discourages people from using their public library. It’s our mission to remove barriers to information, not create them, which is why we’re so excited to finally make this change permanent.”
NOPL leaders said the decision to remove fines aligns the New Orleans Public Library with the American Library Association’s 2019 “Resolution on Monetary Library Fines as a Form of Social Inequity,” Painton said.
The new policy does not apply to Interlibrary Loan fines.
Under the new policy, fees for lost or damaged items will still apply. Cardholders with lost materials on their account are charged the cost of the item but are waived when returned.
For details about the library’s policies and procedures, visit the library website.
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