Returning an overdue book to the Bangor Public Library will no longer cost you.
As of the first of the year, the library is not charging fines for late books, as long as they are not more than one month late.
Library Executive Director Barbara McDade said abolishing fines will get rid of one of the biggest reasons people say they don't use the library.
“In talking to people on why they don't use their public library, the No. 1 reason people don't use it is because they're afraid of overdue charges,” said McDade. “So we want to take that barrier away and make the place more user friendly.”
Getting rid of library fines is part of a growing trend around the country.
The revenue from the fines is about $20,000 a year or one percent of the operating budget. But McDade says the library's board decided the lost revenue is worth it.
“I think almost everyone has found that the books seem to come back at the same rate they did before, and it just makes the public feel much better about using the library,” said McDade.
People who return books late are being encouraged to make a donation.