Public libraries across the country are eliminating late fees so that their books can be more accessible for children regardless of their family’s socioeconomic status. The library is a vital place for child development, and it is a place that every child should have access to. While they are known for their books and movies that you can borrow, they are also community hubs that hold lessons, events and encourage all types of learning in a safe and quiet environment. A lot of families may take going to the library for granted, not realizing that it can be a struggle for a lot of families.

According to Romper and NPR, public libraries across the US are getting rid of their famous fines for overdue books. This is because they want to make sure their material is accessible to every child in the US.

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The latest library service to do this is New York City public libraries. They have now waived all late fees that were already in place, and they will not be assigning late fees going forward. This is just one move that libraries are taking to address the multiple issues of inequality and access.

This also comes after research was done to show that having late fees in the first place does not encourage people to return their material. It is an ineffective strategy that is keeping people away from libraries in general. San Diego Public Library and Chicago Public Library are two other branches that have eliminated late fees. While some may not have a problem paying for the minimal late fees that they may collect, there are some families who are not financially privileged and stay away from libraries to avoid this unnecessary cost. This means that children are not in libraries, a place that is vital for their learning and growth.

Library administrators are also realizing that those who are avoiding the libraries, are likely the ones who would benefit the most from them. Those who would benefit from the extra help and the community resources that a library can offer. Libraries in Kentucky, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina and Pennsylvania have also scraped their late fees, and it leads one to believe that it is only a matter of time before all libraries are done with late fees. If it encourages children to get back into the library and read the books inside, it will always be seen as a good thing.

Sources: Romper, NPR