May 20, 2022Lewisville Public Library eliminates overdue fines

Lewisville Public Library eliminates overdue fines

The Lewisville Public Library is proud to announce that effective today, Friday, May 20, all existing overdue fines are forgiven, and the library will no longer charge overdue fines for materials returned late.

Eliminating overdue fines is a significant change in Lewisville's continued efforts to promote library access, especially among communities that need library services the most.

Under this new system, instead of imposing a fine, a patron's library card will be temporarily frozen until past-due materials are returned. Once those items are returned or successfully renewed, the library card will be active again.

Overdue fines for mobile hotspots and other fees - such as damage fees - will remain. Patrons still will pay replacement fees for lost materials, which will be considered lost after being overdue for more than 30 days. If materials are returned between that time and 90 days overdue, the replacement fee will be waived and only a $5 processing fee will remain.

The Lewisville Public Library joins a nationwide movement to eliminate overdue fines. In 2019, the American Library Association passed a resolution recognizing fines as a form of "social inequity." Libraries across the country have seen an increase in returns and library card sign-ups following the elimination of overdue fines.