PORT ANGELES — Fines for overdue books and materials from the four public libraries in Clallam County will increase from 10 cents per day to 20 cents per day effective Thursday, July 1, but a $5 limit on fines per item will not change.
The fine increase was approved at a recent meeting of the board of the North Olympic Library System, which oversees public libraries in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay.
At a series of town hall meetings and community presentations earlier this year regarding the library system’s 2012 business plan, several people urged an increase in overdue fines to boost revenues and get overdue materials back to the libraries faster.
In 2009, the library system collected $48,166 in overdue fines and charges for lost and damaged books and other materials.
This is about 1.5 percent of the library system’s operating budget.
The library system began charging overdue fines in 2003. The rate had not increased since then before the recent board action.
The Kitsap Regional Library charges 25 cents per day, and the Timberland Regional Library in Grays Harbor County, which began assessing overdue fines in 2009, charges 15 cents per day.
For more information, visit www.nols.org, or phone Director Paula Barnes at 360-417-8525.