During a six-month period of the pilot, the library recovered 3,100 items that had previously been marked lost. Desgined by Magnific

 

OROVILLE, CA (MPG) – Library patrons in Gridley, Biggs and throughout Butte County will no longer face daily fines for overdue books and other materials after a successful one-year trial of the fine-free program.

The Butte County Board of Supervisors agreed last month to make the program permanent at all county library branches. The county began testing the policy last year to encourage patrons to return overdue materials and remove financial barriers that could keep people from using library services.

Butte County Library Director Misty Wright said the pilot produced better results than the previous system of charging 25 cents per item for each day materials were late.

“Because people generate large fines, it (became) a barrier to services,” Wright said. “They just said, ‘well, we’ll just never go back to the library.’”

The biggest change in the trial came in the number of library materials considered lost. During fiscal year 2024-25, the library reported 2,481 lost items valued at $101,608. During the fine-free pilot, that dropped to 768 items valued at $21,270, a 68% decrease, Wright said.

During a six-month period of the pilot, the library recovered 3,100 items that had previously been marked lost.

Wright said the program, designed to recover overdue materials, re-engage library users and encourage patrons to return without accumulating daily fines, proved highly successful. The number of patron accounts blocked for owing $10 or more dropped by about 75%. Despite eliminating daily overdue fines, the library collected about 80% of the revenue budgeted from fines and fees through charges that remained in place.

Library use also increased, Wright said. Active cardholders rose 5% and visits increased 16% during the pilot.

County officials were clear that fine-free does not mean patrons can keep library materials indefinitely. Charges will remain for lost or damaged materials and replacement library cards. Materials that remain overdue for more than 30 days are considered lost, generating a replacement charge and blocking the patron’s account, Wright said. If the materials are returned, the charge and block will be removed.

The Board of Supervisors approved the permanent program without opposition.