Should the Baker County Library District go “Fine Free”?

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, October 8th, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

BAKER COUNTY – Many Oregon libraries across the state have gone “Fine Free,” and the Baker County Library District is wondering if they should do the same. They are asking patrons to take a short survey on this topic.

The Baker Library District did note that they collect “about $10,000 from late fees each year, which is 1% of the library budget. Late fees rates are set at a minimum to recover the postage and handling costs of sending overdue notices, so eliminating them would be budget neutral. For lost/damaged items not paid within 3 months, an outside “Materials Recovery Service”/Collections Agency is used to handle pursuit of replacement costs that total to more than $40.”

For more information and survey information log on to https://www.bakerlib.org/…/survey-on-fines-free-policy