via Wkyc:
Overdue fines will soon be a thing of the past for Cleveland Public Library patrons.
Starting in July, the 28-branch library system will eliminate fines for overdue books and materials, Executive Director Felton Thomas announced today during his State of the Library speech at The City Club.
The announcement, which was received with cheers by more than 100 City Club guests, doesn’t mean it’s OK for library patrons to borrow materials and never bring them back, Thomas cautioned.
“We want to remove barriers, not block people from accessing the library. We want to connect people to knowledge and ideas, not stand in their way. Thank you to our board of trustees for making this important step for the community,” Thomas said during his remarks, which kicked off a year of activities celebrating the Cleveland Public Library’s 150th anniversary.
The library will follow up on overdue items, sending letters to patrons and asking them to return the missing books and materials. And if an item is lost for good, patrons will be asked to reimburse the library
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