07-29-2018, 09:28 PM
Chattahoochee Valley Libraries would like to evaluate the possibility of eliminating overdue fines on all collection materials, allowing broader access to the library’s services for all members of the community. Overdue fines bring in about $250,000 in revenue each year. The three rural county libraries keep all the proceeds of their overdue fine collection which can make up as much as 10% of their annual budgets. Is the possible increase in active customers and circulation enough of a benefit to offset the decrease in revenue? Removing overdue fines from our collection will allow many cardholders to return to the library and begin using the services we offer to them. The bulk of overdue fines charged are never collected and those patrons do not return to CVL. Staff time is used collecting fines and could be reallocated for other services. A large amount of unrecoverable debt could be removed from the database and this removal can be used in a marketing push to bring people back to the library.