Posted by Manny on Friday, Jul 1, 2022
The Iowa City Public Library will be Fine Free for all materials, effective Friday, July 1, 2022. Iowa City Public Library patrons will no longer incur fines for returning library materials past their due dates. Overdue fines were eliminated for Children’s and Teen materials at Iowa City Public Library in June 2019. This new change applies to all other materials.
The Fine Free change is not retroactive and does not eliminate unpaid fines that patrons already had on their Library accounts prior to the change going into effect. Cardholders will still be responsible for fines assessed prior to the change.
Iowa City Public Library is making this change because overdue fines disproportionally affect children and low-income households. Late fines may create a financial barrier for people in accessing library materials. Libraries that have gone Fine Free have reported less stigma and an increased likelihood for patrons to re-engage with their library and its services as a result.
Patrons can find more information on the Library's FAQs page or by calling 319-356-5200.
The Iowa City Public Library is a center of community life that connects people of all ages with information, engages them with the world of ideas and with each other, and enriches the community by supporting learning, promoting literacy, and encouraging creativity.
