Milan Library Eliminates Late Fines; Dexter Last in County to Keep Them

Milan Public Library will go fine-free starting Aug. 1, leaving Dexter District Library as the only public library in Washtenaw County that still charges them. 

The change follows a June discussion by the Milan Library Board about making the library more accessible. Less than 1% of the library’s $533,487.59 budget comes from fines.

“The fines do generate a small amount of revenue,” said Milan Public Library Director Susan Wess, “but the bad thing about fines is they keep people from coming back in, especially if they have a large family and their fines have run up into $50 to $60. Especially with the economy the way it is, people can’t afford it.”

Wess said the board’s unanimous decision at their July meeting follows national trends.

In 2024, The Library Network reported that two-thirds of its member libraries had gone fine-free and encouraged the remaining libraries to consider doing the same. The American Library Association endorsed eliminating fines in 2019.

County trend

Most public libraries In Washtenaw County have eliminated fines on most materials over the past six years. Northfield Township Area Library in Whitmore Lake has been fine-free even longer, except for hotspots. Elizabeth Charette, director of the Northfield library, said fines on books and movies had already been eliminated when she started in 2019.

Amy Zoran, circulation supervisor at the Chelsea District Library said they eliminated fines shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, though it had been in the works before.

“It has helped a lot,” Zoran said, while adding they do charge for lost items. “It has made day-to-day circulation a lot easier, more friendly. …. We still get so many people that are surprised. So, like I said it leads to pretty happy people at circulation.”

Zoran said it’s resulted in losing less than 1 percent of their operating budget.

Ann Arbor District Library Director Eli Neiburger said the library stopped charging overdue

 fines, since COVID, which gave them the data to decide to continue. Instead, patrons have 45 days after a book is due to return it before they are asked to pay for it; after 45 more days it’s sent to collections if not paid.

“Overdue fines don’t work in getting items to come back. It’s not ever worked. It’s basically no different,” Neiburger said. “The amount of materials that are overdue now is basically the same as it was when we had overdue fines.”

Ypsilanti District Library reached the same conclusion. Sam Killian, community relations coordinator for the Ypsilanti District Library, said they eliminated most fines in 2022.

“It’s about accessibility, making people feel more welcome,” Killian said. “A lot of folks if they’re racking up a lot of fines [might be] feeling a little reluctant to come back in or judged. We just wanted to make sure that wasn’t a barrier to people.”

Killian said they haven’t noticed a difference in how many books are returned.

Charette, director of the Northfield Township Area Library, said they will accept books no matter how late as long as they’re in good condition.

“We have had books find their way back after years,” Charette said. “The record so far is three years and three months. The books returned in pristine condition, so no fee was charged.”

Arlene Wallace, circulation director of the Saline District Library, said they eliminated fines about a year ago. The Manchester District Library has eliminated fines as well.

That leaves the Dexter District Library as the only library in the county still charging fines. The library charges 10 cents per item per day overdue. Dexter Library Director Paul McCann said the topic of eliminating fines has come up regularly in library board meetings. 

“We do have board members who are supportive of the idea,” McCann said. “We have board members who feel that having fines in place better ensures return of material and we haven’t been able to bridge that difference.”

Exceptions

While there will no longer be fines on books or other materials in Milan, patrons will still receive reminders to return overdue materials and after a time patrons will be charged for lost items, Wess said. There will still be fines for late-returned hotspots issued through the Friends of the Library program, which is not governed by the library board, something common with other library districts, too.

While the policy officially starts Aug. 1, Wess said they are working to remove all fines now. If anyone has fines she asks they contact the library to have those removed.

Wess said she hopes the new policy helps them reach people who haven’t been coming.

“This is an ideal time [to get more people into the library] with summer reading,” Wess said.