Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System Eliminates All Late Fines

CHARLOTTE, NC — As of Thursday, overdue books at all Charlotte Mecklenburg libraries will not come with a price tag. The library system zeroed out all fines for all its card holders and said it is discontinuing the $.25 a day penalty for overdue materials in a move it hopes will improve equitable access.

"Currently, more than 150,000 cardholders who carry a balance of $10.00 or more are suspended from using Library resources, and more than 40,000 of these accounts were blocked in just the last three years," the library system said in a statement. "Libraries are a place that offer equitable access to everyone in our community. Late or overdue fines have created barriers that discourage people who cannot pay their fines from using the Library. In eliminating fines, the Library encourages all users to come back to the Library, as well as attract new users to experience our resources, services, programs and offerings."

The move to eliminate fees was offset by $600,000 from the county in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget, and follows a resolution issued by the American Library Association that late fees were discriminatory, WFAE reported.

While overdue fines are now a thing of the past, some fees remain, such as replacement fees for lost items and printing fees, according to the library. More information about the library's borrower policy may be found here.

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