DCPL now ‘fine-free,’ though patrons may face penalty for long overdue items

May 12, 2023 | 12:09 am

Updated May 11, 2023 | 10:13 pm

Daviess County Public Library | Photo by AP Imagery

The Daviess County Public Library is now a “fine-free,” meaning current overdue fines have been eliminated and there will be no daily late fees moving forward. However, patrons can still receive a bill if the item is 21 days overdue, and the account will be sent to a collection agency — which does not report to credit monitoring services — if the item is 42 days overdue.

With this new policy, all items can now be borrowed for 21 days (the only exception is a YMCA pass, which can be borrowed for 14 days). This was done to “simplify due dates” according to DCPL’s website.

If patrons return the item within 21 days after its due date, they will not be charged at all.

If the item is 21 days overdue, patrons will receive a bill for the cost of the item, plus processing fees. If patrons return the original item within 21 days of receiving that bill, and it is in good condition, the charges “may be waived,” according to the DCPL website. 

If an item is damaged, lost, missing, or stolen, patrons should contact the library’s Public Services department by visiting the Checkout Desk or calling the library and pressing 2 on the menu. 

If the item is 42 days overdue — meaning 21 days after the bill has been sent — and a patron owes $25 or more, their account will be sent to Unique Management, a collection agency that specializes in recouping library expenses for a fee of $10 per account. A patron may still return the original item in good condition to have all fees waived except the $10 fee charged by Unique.

DCPL has used Unique for many years, according to the library’s website.

“Unique never reports delinquent accounts to credit monitoring services, and it will not garnish wages or assistance funds. Unique only provides billing services for the library,” according to the DCPL, which clarifies that credit scores will not be affected by an account sent to Unique.

For more information on the move to be “fine-free,” click here. To se the latest circulation policy including information on overdue items, click here.

May 12, 2023 | 12:09 am

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