Title
a. Approve and Adopt a Resolution amending Article VIII of the Master Fee Resolution, to authorize removal of overdue library fines, and adjust fees pursuant to the attached Fee Schedule relating to services provided by the Monterey County Free Libraries, effective January 1, 2022.
b.Approve the Library Director or her/his Designee in forgiving all outstanding overdue fines. The outstanding fines that are being requested to be forgiven is in the amount of $155,953.20.
...Report
RECOMMENDATION/SUMMARY:
a. Approve and Adopt a Resolution amending Article VIII of the Master Fee Resolution, to authorize removal of overdue library fines, and adjust fees pursuant to the attached Fee Schedule relating to services provided by the Monterey County Free Libraries, effective January 1, 2022.
b. Approve the Library Director or her/his Designee in forgiving all outstanding overdue fines. The outstanding fines that are being requested to be forgiven is in the amount of $155,953.20.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Public libraries continue to evolve, adapting services to community needs and aspirations, and continually innovating to bring a wider variety of resources in an increasing number of methods. Advancements in automation, changes in services desired and required from public libraries, and increasing awareness of the impact ready access to the services of a public library have on education, literacy, career preparation, and community resilience all require ongoing evaluations of the impact fines, fees, and policies have on how communities use their public library.
The Monterey County Free Libraries evaluated all service changes, fines, and fees throughout the last two years, and recommends the changes detailed below. Most significantly, we recommend joining many other public libraries in California and throughout the nation in eliminating overdue fines. Overdue fines have been widely demonstrated to not be significantly correlated with the return of items on time, to rest...
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