Elgin County Library Eliminates Overdue Fines

March 22, 2022
For immediate release

COUNTY OF ELGIN – Elgin County Library is very pleased to announce that starting June 1, 2022, the library will begin a phased approach to no longer charge overdue fines on all materials by December 31, 2024.

At the February 22, 2022 meeting, Elgin County Council further endorsed a path forward for the elimination of overdue fines on library materials after reviewing the positive results of a public engagement survey implemented in late 2021.
The Library’s phased plan will begin with the elimination of overdue fines on all children’s materials in June, with elimination of overdue fines on all Adult Fiction materials beginning in January 2023 and following with the elimination of overdue fines on all materials beginning in January 2024.

“Emerging from the pandemic and challenging times, Elgin County Council recognizes that providing equitable access to library materials and removing financial barriers not only responds to the needs of Elgin County residents and their library communities, but also extends the Library’s support and services for residents’ physical and mental health”, stated Elgin County Warden Mary French. “For Elgin County Library, eliminating overdue fines will help approximately 1,000 customers regain access to Library services.”

All outstanding overdue fines will be forgiven in concordance with the phased approach and by December 31, 2024. Fees will, however, continue to be charged for lost or damaged library materials. A full copy of the report approved by County Council is available here.

For additional information, please contact:
Natalie Marlowe, Library Coordinator
Elgin County Library
(519) 631-1460 x 109
nmarlowe@elgin.ca


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