The South Charleston Public Library is excited to announce that we will be going fine free starting December 1, 2022.  Some exceptions may apply to speciality items.

Patrons with existing fines will have those waived, but some patrons may still see charges for lost or damaged items.

Why?

In January 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) passed a resolution that asserted overdue fines are a barrier to equitable access and encouraged libraries to eliminate them.

Overdue fines disproportionately impact patrons with lower incomes, as transportation and financial burdens disproportionately affect low-income residents.

Due Dates

Every item checked out will still have a due date. Please remember that someone else may be waiting for an item, so bring it back on time. If someone else has placed a hold on an item, it will not be automatically renewed

What happens if I do not return an item?

The item will be billed to your account after 30 days of being overdue and your account will be blocked.

Damaged or Lost Items

Fees for damaged or lost items will still be charged to cardholder accounts.

Automatic Renewal

When materials are automatically renewed, patrons receive notification of items renewed and a new due date via email/text. If materials cannot be renewed, patrons are notified and an overdue notice is generated.

Blocked Accounts

Once your card has an item overdue for more than 4 weeks, your library account will be blocked. When that happens, you will not be able to check out more items or access certain digital content until the overdue items are returned. You will be billed for the overdue items when they have been overdue for 30 days.

I have a card with old late fines on it. Can I still use it?

Yes! All existing overdue fines have been waived. Some patrons may still see charges for lost or damaged items. Please check with us if you have any questions about your account.

I Found an Item that I’m being Charged for as “Lost”. Can I Bring It Back? 

Yes, please do! There won’t be any overdue fines, but you may still be responsible for a processing fee depending on how long it’s been “lost”.

What About the Lost Revenue That Overdue Fines Generated? 

Overdue fines represent less than 1% of our annual budget. You can still donate to SCPL if you want to help the library.