Fine Free Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still owe replacement and collection agency charges or are they forgiven?
Replacement costs are excused if items are returned to the library. Collection agency fees have been forgiven.
Are all material(s) fine free?
As of December 15, 2021, all materials are fine free.
What happens if material(s) are overdue?
After material(s) are 14 days overdue, your card will be blocked, and you can no longer check out additional material(s). Once you return the material(s), your card will be unblocked and the fine will be removed from your card.
What if material(s) are still not returned after the extra loan period?
After material(s) are 28 days overdue, you will be charged a replacement fee for the material(s). When material(s) are 42 days overdue, the account is sent to the collection agency. If you return the material(s) the replacement fee will be waived.
My card is still blocked. Why can’t I use it?
There are many reasons why your card may be showing as blocked. The most common reasons include you have fees over $10 for lost or damaged items, your card was reported lost or we received returned mail from your address. Please feel free to contact us and we’ll see how we can help you.
What if I use my Gail Borden library card to check out material(s) from another library?
If you check out material(s) from a library that does charge fines, you’re still responsible for paying any fines due to that lending library.
Will this impact the availability of popular items?
Our research shows that this should not be a problem. We will monitor and adjust our purchasing as needed.
Why is this a good idea for our library?
Slowly, we have been taking steps to decrease the impact of fines at our library, such as offering fine free kid cards, allowing kids to read off their fines, implementing automatic renewals and lowering the cost of fines. Being fine free removes a barrier to access our materials.