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• San Rafael Public Library reported an 11% reduction in long overdue items. • Meridian Library District in Idaho eliminated fines for their youth members and saw the following increases in circulation for youth materials in the first three years since the policy change: Year 1: 1%; Year 2: 8%; Year 3: 5% Note: Meridian Library District did not eliminate fines for adult materials which saw a decline in circulation during the same period. Salt Lake City Public Library, Meridian Library District and San Rafael Public Library all reported consistent wait times for hold materials before and after the policy change. (Research Institute Public Libraries Webinar: F3: A Fine-Free Future 6/6/18). Cynthia Fuerst, Library Director of Vernon Area Public Library District (VAPLD) in Illinois, responded to an email inquiry with, "We do believe that if we hadn't gone 'fines free' our circulation numbers would be very dismal." Fuerst continued, "What we have found is that the nickel a day overdue fine was not a motivator to bringing items back; the motivator is not being able to check out additional items until they are returned." These findings were largely anecdotal as VAPLD has not done a formal study supporting those claims, recently. The Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) eliminated all over-due fines in January, 2017. At the time, CEO Patrick Losinski remarked in support of the policy change, "We've shut-off access to the library when one of our staunchest principles is trying to provide the widest access to materials that we can." (Graham, "Long Overdue") After one year of analysis, CML reported modest increases in the number of customers blocked for long overdue items and referrals to a collection agency. Despite these increases, the library system plans to continue the policy. Currently, the PPL has 14,601 members with an unpaid bill on their account (11,720 adults and 2,881 children). 539 of those members (410 adults and 129 children), have blocked library accounts due to unpaid bills on their account exceeding $20, leaving them without access to materials and resources. The impact of overdue fines also heavily impacts city staff as the PPL averages approximately 18,655 transactions per year processing overdue library fines. Each transaction takes time and creates a negative interaction with the customer. At a time when PPL is working to grow its community connection and reach more people in the community, turning each of those negative transactions into a positive interaction could have a huge impact on the perception and impact of the library in our community. The library has previously taken steps towards minimizing barriers by decreasing fine amounts to $0.25 per day and raising the threshold to blocked accounts to $20. Staff also has the authority, within established guidelines and good judgement, to waive member's fines when appropriate. Page 3 of 5