Fine Free FAQ

At its August meeting, the Board of Trustees revised library policies to stop the assessment of overdue fines for items checked out at Fondulac District Library and approved clearing all outstanding overdue fines on items checked out at FDL from patron accounts, effective September 1, 2020. Learn more about these changes from the FAQ below.

Overall, converting to a fine free system provides for more equitable access to library materials and services. We support the American Library Association’s assessment that the “imposition of monetary library fines creates a barrier to the provision of library and information services.” Studies show that fines do not motivate borrowers to return items on time and that charging overdue fines makes people less likely to visit or return to the library. Eliminating overdue fines means that more people in our community will have greater access to the library’s essential resources.

Libraries work because borrowers are entrusted to return materials so that others may use them. Patrons are still expected to adhere to loan periods and return or renew items on or before the due date. No overdue fines will be charged on any item checked out at FDL, regardless of who owns the item, which library issued your card, or where the item is returned. Due dates are provided at checkout and can be viewed by logging in to your account online or with the RSAcat Mobile app. The library will continue to send up to 3 additional overdue notices to patrons via mail or email. (Make sure your account email is up to date!)

Although patrons will not be charged overdue fines, the library will suspend borrowing privileges when items are not returned in a timely manner. Borrowing privileges will be suspended and bills will be issued for item replacement costs and processing fees when:

  • items with 7- or 14-day lending periods and OCLC-based interlibrary loan items are 7 days overdue
  • items with 21-day lending periods are 14 days overdue

Once an item is returned, the bill will be removed and borrowing privileges will be reinstated.

All existing overdue fines on items checked out at FDL have been waived! Fines from other libraries are still owed, and we encourage you to resolve those fines directly with the library that assessed them. Refunds cannot be issued for fines that have already been paid.

Accounts with unreturned billed items and a balance of $50 or more will be submitted to a collection recovery service 30 days after billing and will be assessed a $12 referral fee. The referral fee covers the cost to the library, is not waived upon the return of the items, and is only removed from the account when paid. Accounts are removed from collection status and borrowing privileges are restored when all items are returned and/or fees on the account are paid in full. This information is NOT reported to credit bureaus.

Overdue fines are punitive in nature. Fees cover library services and costs such as copying, printing, faxing, item replacement and processing costs, collection recovery, etc.

There are many reasons why your card may be blocked, including unreturned items, charges over $5, your card being expired or reported lost, or the library received returned mail from your address. Please contact us to find out why. If you check out items from a library that charges fines, you’re still responsible for paying the fines due to that library. Cardholders from other libraries are subject to the account balance limits established by that library.

Revenue from overdue fines represents less than one percent of the library’s annual income. The Board of Trustees considers this minimal loss of revenue an investment in customer service, equitable access, and increasing benefits to the community. Donations to the library are always welcome. Learn more at fondulaclibrary.org/support-fdl/.