Keene eliminates late book fees

Keene Memorial Library enthusiasts can close the chapter on late book fees. 
 
The Fremont City Council eliminated the late fees during Tuesday night’s meeting. 
 
“If you bring your books back late, we welcome you,” said Laura England Biggs, interim director for Keene. “We say thank you and we let you go.” 
 
England Biggs said at the council meeting that in the past four years, the income on fines has been less than $5,000. 
 
“With a $1 million budget, that is pretty negligible,” she said. 
 
England Biggs told the council that eliminating library fines is a movement that is gaining momentum, not only in the United States, but across the world. Keene is also waiving fees from previous years. 
 
“Ir removes a barrier for access to low-income individuals,” she said. “You would think that by removing fines we would never get our materials back, but studies have shown the opposite is true. More materials come back because people are no longer afraid of that 50-cent or dollar fine that they owe because they were a few days late. They get the books back and that is the important part. … You still have to pay if you lose it or damage it, but late is no longer a problem.” 
 
England Biggs said on Thursday that the Friends of Keene Memorial Library annual book sale won’t occur this year. 
 
“We felt there were just too many restrictions with COVID-19,” she said. “We’re still not quite where we want to be.”
 
The library will do a pop-up book nook April 23-25. Friday will run 5-8 p.m. with Saturday set for 1 to 5 p.m. and Sunday at 1 to 4 p.m. 
 
“It is a chance to come browse through some of the books that we’ve been getting rid of at the library,” England Biggs said. “It is a free-will donation with no pricing involved. You find what you like and whatever you feel like donating is great.” 
 
The Friends of Keene Memorial Library are participating in the Big Give event on May 4 in Fremont. England Biggs said the group will donate their proceeds from the event to the library expansion project.
 
“We have an anonymous donor who has agreed to double our donation up to $2,500,” England Biggs said. “Our goal is to raise $2,500 so we can turn that into $5,000.”
 
The early giving period for the Big Give starts Monday. Donors can make minimum contributions of $10, but there are also other options. 
 
“People can come by the library on May 4, we’ll have a box set out,” England Biggs said. “If all you have is a dollar, we’ll let you drop it in. We’ll take those donations, too.”