VIRL removed late fines for all materials as of Jan. 1 2023 (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Fine free in 2023

‘We’ve cleared your record:’ Vancouver Island Regional Library goes fine free

Jan 5, 2023 | 4:00 PM

NANAIMO — Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) officials are done trying to nickel and dime their clientele.

As of January 1 2023, outstanding fines involving all adult items at the agency’s 39 locations were wiped out.

The move made by the VIRL board last September followed previous decisions in recent years to eliminate fines for late items for younger readers.

“If you owed fines previously we’ve cleared your record, we’d like to see you back in the library,” VIRL deputy executive director Anne O’Shea told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Following in the footsteps of other public libraries throughout North America, O’Shea said it’s important to remove barriers for all people to take advantage of educational resources.

off the schedule

BC Ferries preemptively cancels early Saturday sailings

6h ago

firm handshake

B.C. NDP government, Greens reach 'shared priorities' agreement

9h ago

young volunteers

'Make a big difference:' Nanaimo volunteers collecting warm clothing for those in need

10h ago

“We know from past practice, that there are families out there struggling with poverty or limited income who feel that its a risk for their children to borrow out library books and we want to eliminate that barrier altogether.”

O’Shea said VIRL dated shows on average two-thirds of their physical collections are returned within the three-week loan period, while 98 per cent of borrowed materials are brought back within four months.

In addition to books, O’Shea said late returns are not an issue for digital materials, which represent about one third of borrowed VIRL items.

She said it no longer makes sense to charge for late items.

“They don’t represent a large amount of revenue for the library but they do represent a big barrier for members of the community.”

VIRL has about 150,000 items loaned out at any given time among a collection of 750,000 physical items.

The organization has 39 branches established primarily throughout Vancouver Island and are funded by local and provincial government sources.

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes