2022-03-15 CC Agenda Packet - PRESENTATION - ITEM E20 - Fine-Free Public LibraryMoving Forward:
A Fine -Free
El Segundo
Public Library
-Fee Elimination Discussion-
• In 2019 City Council approved the elimination of Children's Fines.
• Recently the Library Board of Trustees revisited the fines
discussion and voted to eliminate all fines.
• It is our hope Council will agree with our recommendation and
allow the El Segundo Public Library to go Fine Free.
Why Eliminate Library Fines?
L
First ask -
What is the purpose of
charging Library Fines?
0 To ensure items are returned?
- Library fines were once considered a way of ensuring items were returned,
but fines are now perceived as more of a scare tactic.
- Charging fines is seen as a barrier to a customer returning their overdue
items if that customer cannot pay.
- Sadly, in many cases both the overdue item and the customer are lost as
that customer fears financial repercussions for library use.
• To generate revenue for the library?
- Last year between January -October, fines only brought in $2,700.
- At various levels of the Library staff time and associated costs are involved in
processing, mailing, and collecting these minimal fines.
19
k
In addition, from an
equality standpoint,
charging fines often
excludes lower -income
individuals from fully
engaging with the
library, more so than
others.
The El Segundo Public Library is one of 40 member libraries of the
Southern California Library Cooperative.
Sixteen SCLC libraries are currently fine -free, with an additional
three working toward being fine -free. These libraries include:
• Altadena ® City of Los Angeles e Monterey Park R Thousand Oaks
Azusa
County of Los Angeles
- Pasadena
0 Torrance
p Burbank
Inglewood
0 Simi Valley
0 Ventura County
500 Library Systems nationwide are now
fine free, including.:
-Chicago Public Library
-New York Public Library
-Oakland Public Library
-San Diego Public Library
-San Francisco Public Library
® San Francisco Public Library was one
of the first to eliminate fines for
children in 1974, and completely
eliminated fines in 2019.
A recent SFPL survey found that
eliminating ALL fines would result in:
- Increased customer access to
materials and services.
- Improve staff efficiency.
ilk
- Reduce inequality for those who
could pay versus those who could
not.
- Improve the relationships
between the public and the
library.
r�
lid►*A 'ool
r �''` .
With the removal of Children's Fines
and the addition of the library
catalog's autorenewal feature, ESPL
has seen a significant drop in the
fines money brought in.
• These fines that
fraction of ESPL
budget.
are only a very small
's and the City's
r
r�
Charges & Fees That Would Remain in
Place Despite Going Fine Free:
Therefore, The Library Board of Trustees respectfully requests that
Council vote to eliminate all daily overdue fines.