By Melissa Rosequist
Twitter: @mrosequist_

Patrons of Scottsdale Public Library will no longer need to worry about accruing late fines for not returning their books, as City Council unanimously decided to abolish the penalty.

The late-fine free system will be effective on July 1.

Libraries across the country have been moving to becoming late-fine free after the American Library Association adopted a resolution in January 2019 deeming monetary fines as a form of social inequity.

At the request of Scottsdale’s Library Board, library staff gathered and presented data on the topic, which was discussed at three meetings in 2019.

On the heels of those meetings, Library Board Chair Teresa Kim Hayes-Quale delivered a letter to the City Council on Jan. 7, recommending becoming a late-fine free library without an adverse impact on the library system’s General Fund budget.

Ultimately, library officials believe abolishing the late fines will break down barriers to reach all residents, as late fines or the possibilities of incurring fines keeps those with limited means, fixed-income or transportation challenges away from the library.

On April 7, Scottsdale City Council voted 7-0 to approve the fine abolishment, joining more than 300 public libraries across the county who have made the change.

Locally, the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County Library District have rid of their late fines.

Ms. Hayes-Quale submitted a written comment to City Council --- as the meetings are being held electronically due to COVID-19 --- which illustrated reasons to eliminate the late fines.

At the core of Scottsdale Public Library is its collection including books, music, movies and reference materials, available to each and every resident young or old, Ms. Hayes-Quale stated.

“In January of 2018, a fellow board member, Joe Rubin, shared the experience of how after conducting a Storytime at Civic Center, he was dismayed to find that too many of the children didn’t and couldn’t get a library card because their parents were afraid of possible fines,” Ms. Hayes-Quale stated in her letter.

“As a child, I checked out books when the little red schoolhouse was Scottsdale’s only library. The thought of other children being unable to have that experience was unacceptable.”

Thus, a two-year investigation and research project was started to explore the feasibility of going late-fine free.

A community institution

There are 119,552 Scottsdale Public Library card holders, and 6.4% --- or 7,690 --- of these cards are blocked for overdue rentals after accruing $10 in late fee.

In fiscal year 2018-19, the library collected $161,363 in fine revenue.

On average, 64% of fines changed were paid over the last three years, according to Assistant City Manager Bill Murphy.

In addition, fines charged and corresponding revenue collected is decreasing by 8-14% annually due to an increase in e-material circulation and a decrease in total number of materials checked out.

The library started an amnesty program on April 1. Despite the library buildings being closed, there are still drive-thru services and drop boxes available.

“The goals of this program are to get the cards unblocked, we want to get people’s access back to use the library, we want to get our materials back,” Library Director Kira Peters said during the council meeting.

“Right now, we have already waived, I think, about 58 cards have already been unblocked and that was just in our first week of this amnesty program. So, that’s really good news to show that despite the library buildings being closed, we are still getting materials back, and we are waiving fines for our community so they can continue to use the library.”

City Councilmember Virginia Korte thanked the library board for being so passionate about the fine-free adoption.

“I think it’s important for our city and the people who use the library,” Ms. Korte said. “Thank you for your perseverance because I know you’ve been working on this for a couple of years.”

Mayor Jim Lane also lent his voice to note the importance of the library system.

“The libraries are an important institution for our city, and become maybe even become more important every day,” Mr. Lane said. “Anything we can do to facilitate greater use and comfort in the use of them, I think is a positive situation. Personally, I was somewhat impressed with the amnesty program.”