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PROPOSED COUNTYWIDE ELIMINATION OF OVERDUE FEES - Barbara S. Ponce Library
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NOTE: The member libraries of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative (PPLC) are proposing the elimination of overdue fines in fiscal year 2021. Discussions have been ongoing for the past year regarding the financial impact, impacts to the collections, borrower concerns and expectations, and the role of overdue fines in relationship to libraries' larger mission to promote literacy, reading and an engaged and informed citizenry.
A vote on this proposal is scheduled for November 9, 2020; a majority vote by the Library Directors Advisory Council of the PPLC will determine the outcome for all member libraries. Our library director recognizes that while revenues are important to the City, that the promotion of the library's primary mission is supported in this proposal and recommends joining in favor of this proposal.
A summary of key discussion points from the PPLC libraries is attached. The American Library Association's 2019 "Resolution on Monetary Fines as a Form of Social Inequity" is also attached.