IT WAS the fodder for many a local newspaper story: library book overdue by 20 years faces record fines. But no more.
Reading Library Service is planning to withdraw late fees to help encourage usage.
It is an extension of a suspension originally introduced in spring 2020, as the first covid lockdown meant people couldn’t easily return books.
And to help fund the change in fees, the council will look to increase income elsewhere, such as its printing documents service, currently from 15p per page.
Reading Borough Council lead councillor for leisure and culture, Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, said it was part of its measures to support families during the cost of living crisis.
“Reading’s library service is a fantastic source of free books, ebooks, emagazines and audiobooks but we know that fear of incurring fines or unexpected costs puts some residents off using their local library,” she said.
“By removing fines we are sending a clear message that we want everyone to feel confident using their library, whether they are borrowing a book, joining in one of our social or activity sessions, or just want somewhere to sit and relax without having to spend money.
“Over the last year, our libraries have seen around 200,000 visitors across the network, with 400,000 books and eBooks issued and around 2,000 home visits to people who are unable to leave their homes.
“These are great results, but we are striving to build on these numbers, particularly in our quieter libraries
“Removing the reservation fee will mean library users can read any book held by the service without having to worry about whether it is available on the shelves of their local library.”
She said that while cuts to Local Authority funding have resulted in the closure of a fifth of the nation’s libraries since 2010, Reading has bucked the trend with its libraries remaining in situ.
“We value the vital role they play in improving health outcomes, improving quality of life, and supporting improved education, wellbeing and skills,” she said. I want to encourage everyone to visit their local library and see what’s on offer, or to check out our online offering at www.reading.gov.uk/elibrary for a huge range of free eBooks, eMagazine, eAudio.
“Our libraries belong to all of us and they are more important now than ever.”
Green Councillor Rob White, leader of the main opposition group on Reading Borough Council, said: “Greens support cutting library fines, they don’t raise much money and they put people off coming into libraries.
“We want more people to develop a love of reading and we think cutting fines will help with this.”
This view was echoed by Liberal Democrat Cllr Anne Thompson, who said: “I did a double-take when I first spotted the withdrawal of library fines on the agenda.
“As a sometimes tardy returner of library books myself, I thought, ‘surely this won’t work’. But after reading up on the proposal and discussing it with my Lib Dem colleagues, I changed my mind.
“After all, we’ve not had library fines in Reading since the start of the pandemic and we’re still returning our books.
“The figures show that fines made up 8% of income for Reading libraries in 2019-20, money which is now more than covered by other income streams. And it’s about much more than money. It’s about encouraging people to use the libraries, especially children.
“As the cost of living crisis bites, parents don’t want to be worrying about their kids running up library fines. Many US libraries got rid of fines a few years ago and it’s had a really positive effect on engagement, with far more users coming through the doors.
“So yes, Reading Lib Dems welcome this fascinating proposal.”
The decision has been criticised by the Conservative group leader, Cllr Clarence Mitchell.
“While we will always support maintaining, or even improving, the usage levels of our libraries, particularly for Reading’s more disadvantaged families – especially in the internet age of such downloadable reading choice – myself and my colleague on the Policy Committee, Cllr Simon Robinson, expressed our concerns about the effect of the removal of any sanction at all for those few people who may choose not to return books or other items,” he said.
“Library fines, while small in themselves, have for generations served as as both a gentle deterrent and a community-minded safeguard to ensure the safe and timely return of books and other materials for the good of all the other library users in Reading.
“This decision, though, means the Council will now not be pursuing ‘lost’ books at all. RBC’s Labour administration claims that such fines put people off using our libraries, that the numbers involved are declining and are not worth pursuing.
“But what is now to stop anyone simply taking books and never returning them without fear of any penalty?
“We therefore abstained on the decision on principle, and sincerely hope that our fears over the potential for an eventual outflow of books do not come true.”
