Blog > WE ARE FINE FREE!

Posted August 23, 2021

After careful consideration, the Library’s Board of Trustees has decided that the fines we collect tend to be more a hindrance to our patrons than a help to the library. As such, the Matteson Area Public Library is happy to announce that we will no longer be charging fines for the majority of items checked out from us that are a few days late, with a few exceptions such as Rokus, Hotspots, Laptops, etcetera.

Patrons may also notice that their account has been frozen if they have 5 or more items overdue.  No fee will be charged, but this will prevent you from checking more items out or from placing holds until the items are returned or the account is settled.  Notification that items are coming due (and another that the item is overdue) will continue through the same methods before: an email, a text, or an automated phone call so as to hopefully help you avoid the freezing of your account.

Seeing as while we are glad to loan you a multitude of items, we do want them to be returned to us in the condition they left the library, so that others can enjoy them as well. Patrons will still be billed for the replacement cost of items that are returned damaged beyond reasonable wear and tear, lost items, or items once they have reached 42 days overdue.

Also, anyone that wishes to continue to support the Library will be glad to know that we still accept monetary donations—the money going towards purchasing new and exciting items for the library that might not otherwise fit into the budget!

Thank you and we look forward to serving you soon.