Overdue library fines shelved

Thousands of banned library users will soon be able to borrow books from Christchurch libraries after the council decided to abolish fines for overdue items.

From March 1, Christchurch City Council’s network of libraries will no longer charge for overdue books, and it will wipe $82,500 worth of historical debt.

The move will mean 14 per cent or 27,455 of the 196,111 library members who have been unable to borrow items from the library because of outstanding fines, will be able to borrow books again.

The council makes about $300,000 each year from library fines and spends about $40,000 on administration costs relating to them.

Losing the revenue from fines was expected to affect next year’s rates by 0.05 per cent, but councillors were hoping to find savings elsewhere in the budget.

The idea to do away with fines – as well as wipe historical debt related to unpaid charges – was first put forward by Heathcote councillor Sara Templeton in November.

Not all councillors were in support of the move with Crs Aaron Keown, Sam MacDonald, Catherine Chu and James Gough voting against it.

The other 13 councillors and mayor Lianne Dalziel supported abolishing fines.

MacDonald said he believed people had a personal responsibility to return books and there was already a system in place where people were able to have a conversation with library staff about getting fines wiped.

He asked if the council should then consider removing parking fines too?

However, Templeton said when people were at their lowest they did not have the capacity to approach library staff in a public place and tell them what was often a distressing story.

‘‘We should just do it and look at efficiencies in the annual plan as we usually do anyway.’’

Gough said he wanted the issue looked at as part of the council’s upcoming annual plan, so the community could be consulted, and the wider financial implications fully considered.

He said fines were a necessary evil to ensure equitable access for everyone else.

However, Dalziel pointed out that removing fines actually increased the number of books being returned.

Earlier in the meeting, the council was encouraged to remove the fines by community advocate Josiah Tualamali’i, youth advocate Dominic Wilson and Canterbury University political scientist Professor Bronwyn Hayward.

Wilson said libraries act as a safe haven for many young people and everything should be done to ensure everyone was able to do that.

Hayward said the move to remove fines was far-sighted and removed a barrier that would make an enormous difference, especially to children and young people.

A report by head of libraries and information Carolyn Robertson recommended ending fines.

She said they had become a barrier to the library for some people, ‘‘particularly for those customers who cannot afford to pay’’.

At least 12 councils, including Auckland, Nelson, Hutt City, Carterton, Waikato and Christchurch’s neighbours Selwyn and Waimakariri, no longer charge overdue library fines.

International and national research had identified being fines-free encouraged library use, increased returns and did not disadvantage anyone, the report said.