Visitors to any of the 22 branches in the Detroit Public Library system will no longer be charged fines for overdue items. The new policy also clears all past overdue fines.
“What it really does is go back to the initial purpose of the library, which is to provide access,” said DPL spokeswoman Katie Dowgiewicz.
She says the change does not eliminate fees for lost or damaged items.
She also says visitors won't have access to library services as long as they have overdue materials checked out.
“So there is a consequence,” Dowgiewicz said. “You still have to bring your item back on time. It's just, you're not going to get fined.”
The Detroit Public Library joins several other Michigan library systems that have eliminated some or all overdue fines.
That includes Kent District Library and Grand Rapids Public Library.
