Eugene Library eliminating late fees for child, teen materials
EUGENE, Ore. -- Kids and teens with Eugene Library fees won't have to pay them to keep using the library.
Starting on the first of next year, kids and teens will no longer have late fees and their current late fees will be absolved.
Right now at the Eugene Library, if you have late fees over $10 you can no longer use library resources or check out books.
Library staff say this new initiative removes obstacles for kids and teens to get to reading.
"Getting books in the hands of folks and other resources in the hands of folks, the value is much more there than collecting those fees and fines," says Eugene Library Services Director Will O'Hearn. "Those fees and fines impact individuals of lower socioeconomic status and we really want to make sure that those folks have the same opportunities."
Library staff says this is a trend with libraries across the nation.
They still encourage folks to return overdue books.
But rather than paying off fines, kids and teens can wait just two months to start using the library again.
