St. Louis City, County Libraries Are Now Officially Fine-Free

[Sherman A1]

Two of the largest library systems in the St. Louis region are axing fines for overdue library materials.

St. Louis County Library and St. Louis Public Library join a trend of major metropolitan library districts across the U.S. — including those of Kansas City, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Chicago — that have eliminated fines for their users in an effort to increase access and equity within the communities they serve.

“We have seen a lot of studies out there that say fines are not the incentive to get people to bring their books back,” said Kristen Sorth, the director of the St. Louis County Library district. “And so, we still want the books back. You just don’t have to come back and pay a fine.”

The policy change does not mean library users are off the hook.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/st-louis-city-county-libraries-are-now-officially-fine-free?

[More_Cowbell]

1. Here's a map of library systems who've done away with fines

https://www.urbanlibraries.org/member-resources/fine-free-map

I'm not sure if it includes ONLY "urban" libraries.

My local library system did away with fines last year; I didn't realize that it was a national trend.