PORT ANGELES — All four branches of the North Olympic Library System will host a community resource drive with a twist: Accrued library fines will be waived in exchange for a donation of nonperishable food, diapers or pet food.
The fine amnesty program will begin Friday and extend through Sept. 30 at the Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay public libraries.
“The library is all about connecting people in our community with necessary resources,” said Erin Shield, technical services manager.
“A fine amnesty program is a way for the library to provide additional support for local services while removing financial barriers that may reduce people’s access to library resources. It’s a win-win.”
All donated items will be turned over to community resource centers so donations stay local, Shield said.
In return, staff members hope to see some long-lost library users come through the doors — people who perhaps have been staying away from their local public library because they owed fines on overdue materials.
Old fines still on a library card account for books, DVDs, magazines and other materials that were returned past their due dates will be waived with a donation, as well as overdue items returned during the fine amnesty period.
Charges will not be waived for interlibrary loan items, lost or damaged items, processing fees or collection agency fees.
The Port Angeles Library is at 2210 S. Peabody St., the Sequim Library is at 630 N. Sequim Ave., the Forks Library is at 171 S. Forks Ave. and the Clallam Bay Library is at 16990 state Highway 112.
For more information, contact Shield at 360-417-8500, ext. 7724; email discover@nols.org; or check www.nols.org and click on “Events.”
