WINDHAM — Beginning January 1st, 2024 the Windham Public Library made the decision to go fines free by eliminating daily fines for overdue Windham Public Library materials. Going forward you will not see any daily late fees added to your account, however if there were any fines that accrued before the beginning of the new year those fines will have to be paid.
You should know, however, that the library will still charge fees for lost or damaged materials. Any item more than 21 days overdue will be considered a lost item and your account can be charged for the cost of the "lost" item. So it is important to make sure you renew your item if more time is needed. Check out periods have not changed, the materials you check out will still have due dates.
Public libraries are a place that offer access to everyone in our community. Late and overdue fines have created barriers and discourage people from using the library. In eliminating these fines we hope to encourage all users to come back to the library and attract new patrons to experience our resources.
Fine free has become a growing trend at other libraries and has had positive outcomes. It can potentially result in increased visits and circulation. Data has shown that it does not result in longer wait lists or a big increase of overdue materials.
If you have any questions regarding our new Fines Free policy please feel free to call us at 518-734-4405. The library is open Monday, Tuesday and Fridays 10:00am - 5:00pm, Tuesday and Thursdays 10:00am - 6:00pm and Saturdays 10:00am - 1:00pm, Closed Sundays.
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