SPL will raise library fines begining October 15th

October 5, 3:38 PMSeattle Books ExaminerDanielle Dreger-Babbitt

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Library users listen up!  You might want to start hoarding your change because beginning Thursday, October 15th the Seattle Public Library will limit the number of items you may check out at one time and raise the fees for overdue items.  The library system was forced to cut $1 million from the budget to help with the city-wide budget deficit. earlier this year, and may lose an additional $2.8 million.

The changes to fines and borrowing limits are:

• Check-out limit: 50 items. Cardholders will need to reduce the number of items checked out to below 50 in order to borrow anything else.
• Limit on placing holds: 25 items. Includes active and suspended holds, and holds available for pick-up. Cardholders won’t lose unfilled holds, but won’t be able to place more holds until the total is below 25.
• Interlibrary Loan fee: $5 for each item obtained on/after Oct. 15, 2009. The fee for this specialized service does not apply to holds placed on material owned by the Seattle public library. It applies only to items that customers ask the library to borrow from other library systems.
•  Items designated for children 12 and under: Daily fines of 15 cents per item accrue on overdue items
•  Literacy and ESL items: Daily fines of 15 cents per item accrue on overdue items
•  Annual Library card for nonresidents: $85
•  Three-month Library card for visitors: $25

According to the library, the board of trustees revised the materials loan policy to address the high demand for library books and other items during this rough economic time, to continue to provide quality service with a limited budget, and to maximize the circulation of books and other items for all customers.  They also state that they are making borrowing limits and fees in line with other library systems.  Currently the Sno-Isle Library System does not limit the number of books one can borrow (but they do limit DVDs and CDs to 10 per card per age level), nor do they limit the number of holds one can place, or charge overdue fees (just for lost items).  The King County Library System has a hold limit of 25 items and library customers may only check out a maximum 100 items.  They do limit special materials like children's holiday books to five due to demand.  Their library fines are 10 cents a day.

While the increase in library fees and fines at SPL seems like a blow to the wallet, there is some good news in terms of the future limits and fine.  Perhaps the wait time for popular DVDs and books and music will drop dramatically.