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Several libraries who have made this change report more members returning items on time and increases in new library card holders and check-outs: • Salt Lake City Public Library reported an 11% increase in borrowers and circulation and a 4% increase in new card registration after eliminating overdue fines and moving to materials recovery. • 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). Oakland Public Library, Alameda Free Public Library and Alameda County Library will convert to the Materials Recovery model beginning July 1, 2019. With Contra Costa County Libraries already using this model, the PPL will be surrounded by neighboring libraries who have made this transition. Challenges of the Daily Fine Method Currently, the PPL has 14,601 members with unpaid overdue fines on their account (11,720 adults and 2,881 children). A total of 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 positive impact on the perception and impact of the library in our community. Previous Efforts The library has previously taken steps towards minimizing barriers by decreasing fine amounts to $0.25 per day and raising the threshold for blocked accounts to $20. Staff also has the authority, within established guidelines and good judgement, to waive member's fines when appropriate. In September 2018, the library further increased access to materials through the Student Success Initiative which allowed high school students in the Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) to use their student ID cards as library cards. This initiative Page 3 of 5