Do you remember that crime thriller borrowed from the library a few years ago? The one never returned and the library keeps on sending reminders about overdue fees. And you never put your face inside the library again due to embarrassment and guilt and mixed metaphors.
Wexford County Council Public Libraries have made a New Year’s resolution to abolish all overdue fines and Wexford readers are being urged to reconnect with their local library. The library doors are being thrown open like an unfolding love story.
A new chapter dawns as outstanding fines have been abolished and library users who may have overdue items can return them now, confident that there will be no fines to pay, and their memberships can be reactivated on the spot so they can begin using their local library straight away again.
But the story doesn’t end there.
No fines does not mean no responsibility. Members will continue to receive reminders and overdue emails to prompt them to return items to the library on or before their due date to allow them to be borrowed by other library users.
Fees for lost or damaged adult items will be charged and these will be shown as a balance on a library account. There will be no replacement charge for children’s items which have been lost or damaged.
Eileen Morrissey, County Librarian at Wexford County Council said; “Libraries are an invaluable resource for all in the community and we want to remove any barriers that might prevent people making full use of them. This is why we are eliminating fines and other charges.
“Wexford County Council is inviting everyone to visit a library during January and see for themselves all the completely free services and facilities on offer there. We can promise that a resolution to use your library more is one you will find very easy to keep throughout the year,” said Ms Morrissey.