Help End Library Fines at Toronto Public Libraries

Library fines were introduced to encourage people to return materials on time, but what happens if you can’t afford to pay them? Your account is blocked and you aren’t permitted to use many library services. 

According to Toronto Public Library data close to 150,000 teens and adults in Toronto have outstanding library fines resulting in thousands of blocked library accounts, with many living in predominantly low income and racialized areas of the city. Toronto Public Library now says “increasingly fines have become a barrier to the use of library services.” Research and experiences across North America are showing fines aren’t working and library systems are making big moves to eliminate fines. It’s time Toronto did the same. 

Libraries are meant to provide universal access to information and resources. They are one of our greatest tools to create a more fair and equitable city. That’s why the Toronto Public Library Board requested funding from the City to end library fines. Unfortunately, this request has so far been denied and the full funding to end fines is not included in the City Budget. 

We still have a chance to get this funding in the 2022 City Budget and take bold action to eliminate fines permanently. The Mayor and Councillors vote on the City Budget February 17. Tell them you support ending library fines and opening up access to the library system for thousands of people being denied services.

Even more information, in case you’re curious

Where would the money come from to do this?

The Toronto Public Library is looking for $1.4 million total to help with the fines elimination program and they already have some of that funding in place. They need $500,000 more in the 2022 City Budget to reach $1.4 million and be able to eliminate fines. 

The Toronto Police are seeking an additional $25 million from the City for their $1.1 billion budget and, unlike the library request, that $25 million is currently included in the 2022 Budget. Toronto City Councillors and Mayor can easily vote to redirect $500,000 of the additional $25 million the Toronto Police have requested to go towards fines elimination at Toronto Libraries and open up library services to hundreds of thousands of people in Toronto. This would have a huge impact on people’s lives and future opportunities.

Are other library systems doing this?

Yes! Hundreds of library systems across North America are going fine-free because of the barrier that fines are creating to accessing library resources. In Canada there are at least 189 fine-free library systems. Money should not be a barrier to accessing the resources libraries provide. It’s time Toronto caught up!

So then why would people return the books?

Yes, the old idea behind fines was to create a financial deterrent that would encourage people to return materials on time so more people could use the library's materials. But it’s clear that’s not working. There’s little evidence that fines work as a deterrent. In fact, fines are actually now preventing people from using library materials — hundreds of thousands of people in our city. And some studies have shown that eliminating library fines actually increases returns because people no longer avoid the negative interaction (i.e. being embarrassed) of having to pay a late fee.

Fines are clearly doing the opposite of what people intended. The Toronto Public Library is now calling for the elimination of fines to open up library services to hundreds of thousands of people in the city. They shared that “just the fear of incurring fines may stop people from borrowing library materials.”[1]

“Not charging late fees has a positive effect on collections. Contrary to what we used to believe, library statistics prove that the elimination of fines has increased the number of items returned because people do not fear the negative reprisal from the library. Because the library is getting back so much more of its collection, there is a significant decrease in the amount of replacement books purchased.”
- Bessie Sullivan, CEO of Orillia Public Library [2]

“Many libraries that have eliminated fines in recent years report just the opposite. For instance, the Chicago Public Library saw a 240% increase in returned books in the month after they eliminated fines in September of 2019. Salt Lake City’s Public Library saw late returns drop from 9% to 4% after fines were eliminated. Six months after fine elimination at the High Plains Library District in northern Colorado, the library saw an increase in circulation and 95% of their materials were returned within one week of their original due date.”
- Sabrina Unrein, Researcher and Library Associate [3]

Sources:

Fines and Fees at the Toronto Public Library: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/using-the-library/fines-fees.jsp#happens  

Ontario Library Association post by Bessie Sullivan, CEO of Orillia Public Library: https://open-shelf.ca/20210919-things-are-not-fine/ 

Research Paper: Unrein, Sabrina. (2020). “Overdue Fines: Advantages, Disadvantages, and How Eliminating Them Can Benefit Public Libraries.” Syracuse, NY: iSchool Public Libraries Initiative at Syracuse University. https://ischool.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Overdue-Fines-Advantages-Disadvantages-and-How-Eliminating-Them-Can-Benefit-Public-Libraries.pdf 

Toronto Police Services 2022 Budget Submission: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2022/bu/bgrd/backgroundfile-175009.pdf

Toronto Public Library 2022 Budget Submission: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/content/about-the-library/pdfs/board/meetings/2021/oct25/14-2022-operating-budget-submission-combined.pdf (see page 10)

Toronto Public Library - Elimination of Children’s Fines - FAQ: https://torontopubliclibrary.typepad.com/news_releases/elimination-of-childrens-fines-key-points-and-faq.html