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South Coast Library System Considering Dropping Late Return Fees

A South Coast library system may be the latest in the national to eliminate late return fees.  The Ventura County Library System is proposing to move to a fine free system.

Library officials say removing the fines will bring back people who may not be using the system due to past fines.   They say with money tight for many families due to the coronavirus crisis, the need to wave overdue fees has grown.

Dropping the fines may also actually save money.  The library system collected about $65,000 last year in late fees.  But, dropping the charges may save hundreds of hours of staff time, and encourage people to return materials which would otherwise need to be replaced.   People would still be billed for items which are lost. 

About 200 library systems around the country have dropped late fees.  Ventura County Supervisors are set to look at the proposal when they meet Tuesday.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral. 
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