Nelson libraries farewell fines

Nelson libraries will join the growing trend of local libraries ridding late fees up and down the country.

In a bid to make libraries more accessible, Nelson City Council has voted to remove late fees for overdue library items from July 1.

The issue of library fines was raised by community member Daniel Jackson as part of council’s Long Term Plan community submissions in mid-May.

Daniel referred to other councils in Aotearoa making the switch in his submission including Central Hawke’s Bay, Rangitikei District, Selwyn, and Masterton have removed library overdue fines and Auckland and Timaru are also looking to wave away fines.

“I hadn’t been thinking about the issue until I saw an article a few months back discussing library fines and how other councils were getting rid of them. It also talked about how it was a barrier to access libraries for some community members,” says Daniel.

Daniel's submission detailed research that found library fines do not have a significant effect on return rates for books and other items borrowed and libraries that have removed fines experienced a significant increase in visitors and circulation.

“I thought back to when I was a teenager, a disorganised but also book-loving teen who had racked up a few fines. Had my parents not been able to step in with the cost I might not have been able to go back,” he says.

Nelson City Council agreed with Daniel, councillor Rohan O’Neill Stevens drafting and moving the motion to remove late fees.

“I strongly believe our city needs to become more accessible and inviting, and the ‘great equalisers’ that are our libraries are a great place to start,” says Rohan.

The motion was moved May 20 to seemingly unanimous support from fellow councillors.

The zero overdue fees policy will apply to all late returned library items, including books, DVDs, magazines and other lending items.

This will not change the existing lost books policy, which comes into effect when the borrowed item is 21 days overdue. There will still be a charge for borrowing DVDs.

Lost revenue from the removal of fees will be made up in an additional rates contribution of $37,000.

Council says the removal of the fees is a step toward making the library more accessible to everyone.

“These fines disproportionally effect lower-income users and hold people back from using a space that belongs to everyone,” says Rohan.