As of Thursday, July 1, the Middle Georgia Regional Library System removed fines from children’s and teen print materials. The goal is to reduce barriers and increase equity for library users.

“We know that for some patrons, paying a fine can be daunting and damper the library experience,” said Sherri Goss, Chair of the Middle Georgia Regional Library Board of Trustees. “Removing fines for children and young adult materials helps make the library’s resources more accessible, support literacy efforts for our community, and remove the unnecessary stress, fear, or apprehension of library use.”Middle Georgia Regional Libraries are joining other library systems across the country in removing fines. Studies show that overdue fines directly impact children’s families and community members and encourages patrons not to bring books back.

“We did not want 20 cents a day to keep families from using their resources,” said Jennifer Lautzenheiser, Middle Georgia Regional Library Director. “This change opens additional doors for our users to utilize their local libraries and removes an economic boundary for lower-income patrons. We recognize that the majority of users with a balance are children younger than 18 and we want them to be forever library supporters.”

The fine removal does not apply to adult materials. If any adult materials are lost, damaged, or late, patrons will still get a fine.