Late Library Fines Will Be a Thing of the Past in Yakima Valley

Did you hear the stunning news that beginning January 2023, thousands of Yakima Valley Library customers will no longer have to worry about late fees for overdue books? This is not a joke, you are not being pranked. Ashton Kutcher is not going to jump out from behind the bushes and yell, “SIKE!” The board of directors at Yakima Valley Libraries have given the big thumbs up to making late library fines a thing of the past! I, for one, am ready to celebrate this great news with block party and parade going down South 72nd Ave right in front of the Richard E. Ostrander Public Libary!

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WHEN DID THE NEWS BREAK ABOUT THE LATE FINES GOING AWAY?

You may have already seen the news about this on KNDO TV, but I actually found this news out initially during a pit stop at the downtown Yakima library right before our Christmas Break began. My 11-year-old child had requested that I take her to not one, but two, libraries so that she could rent as many of the Babymouse series of books that we could find. When we checked the books out, the librarian informed me that I owed $8.99 in late fees. I had no idea! They then told me that I had two options: Pay the fees now and continue borrowing books with a clear account or not worry about paying the late fees because they are going away anyhow beginning January 2023.

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THAT ONE TIME I OWED A BUNCH IN LATE LIBRARY BOOK FEES...

One time, I owed so much in late fees on Yakima Valley library books, I stayed away for almost two years in a row. Yes, because I had kept procrastinating and forgetting to return my library books on time, they sent my name to an agency to collect $8.99 in late fees! I couldn’t even be mad at them or call that move petty; it was absolutely my fault for not being a good library customer.

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Here are 5 reasons why Yakima Valley residents won’t have to pay any more late library fees:

1 . It discourages people who owe late fees from going back to the Library for long stretches of time.

2 . The late fees affect poor people more than those better off financially.

3 . The late fee recoveries end up costing the Libraries more than the late fees are worth.

4 . Other libraries across the country are finding success and repeat customers after switching to this “no late fee” approach.

5 . It will encourage more people to start picking up books again (instead of those electronics). Remember those things, BOOKS?

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WHAT'S THE CATCH? THE FINE PRINT...

And now for the Fine Print: Offer includes all library books. If you damage a book, you will have to pay to replace it! If you are more than 14 days late returning a book, you can’t borrow JACK until you return those other books. If you want to be slick and your book is 28 days late, they will charge you for each entire book(s). If you get charged and return the book within 1 year, they will remove the charge from your account.

Now that you know there are no more late fees on library books, please celebrate this amazing news by returning all of your books on time so that the next person can borrow the book. And yes, I’m looking at me, too!

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