What does it mean to be fine-free?

Overdue fines are monetary penalties incurred by patrons for late returns of library materials. Moving forward, Plainsboro Public Library materials will no longer accrue late fines regardless of who borrows them and how late they are returned. The Plainsboro Public Library wants to ensure all community members can enjoy our resources without worrying about potential fees.

This does not apply to lost or damaged items, which we may still need to charge for.

What does this mean for patrons?

Patrons are no longer required to pay overdue fines. Any patrons with current late fees will receive a clean slate, and no fines will be incurred moving forward. However, patrons are still responsible for returning any borrowed items on time with respect for their fellow library users. Any item that goes unreturned will be deemed lost, and the patron will be billed for replacement costs.

What if I have a card with late fines on it?

All existing overdue fines have been waived. Some patrons may still see charges for lost or damaged items. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about your account.

What if my card was suspended or has since expired because of unpaid late fees?

Everyone is receiving a clean slate! Please come back to the library and reopen your account with us! All of your past late fees have been removed and have no impact on your account moving forward.

Will there still be due dates?

Yes, items will still have due dates, and they will be printed on your checkout receipt. Please remember that someone else may be waiting for an item, so bring it back on time.

Loan Periods consist of:

• Educational Tablets, New Books, TV Series, New DVDs, Summer Reading Books – 2 Weeks
• Books, Magazines, AudioBooks, DVDs, CDs – 3 Weeks
• Lucky Day Items – 2 Weeks

What happens if I don’t return an item on time?

Patrons will receive overdue notices when their checked-out item is past due. Cardholders receive a courtesy reminder notice that a book is due three days before the item’s due date. Cardholders receive notifications regarding overdue items on the following schedule. These notices note the item is overdue and advises returning the item at the cardholder’s earliest convenience.

Books:

• First notice – Overdue 14 days
• Second notice – Overdue 28 days
• Billed for a lost item – Overdue 42 days

Nonprint Items:

• First notice – Overdue 7 days
• Second notice – Overdue 14 days
• Billed for a lost item – Overdue 28 days

Will cardholders still have to pay for lost or damaged books?

Cardholders receive a bill when an item is considered “lost.” The bill is for the item’s replacement cost and processing fee. The bill is sent to the email address on the cardholder’s account. The bill states that the cardholder’s privileges are suspended until payment for the item is received, or the item is returned. Patrons with no email address on their account will receive a notice by mail.

I found an item that I’m being charged for as “lost.” Can I bring it back?

Yes, please do! There won’t be any overdue fines, and we will remove the “lost” charges.

How will being fine-free impact the library’s budget?

While the library is always carefully watching its bottom line, any loss of overdue fine revenue is tiny compared with the good this new policy will do for the community. Fines make up less than .01% of the library’s budget. Due to various reasons, including the implementation of Automatic Renewal, the significant increase in the use of digital resources that do not accrue fines, and the suspension of penalties during the pandemic, fine revenue has decreased from 2018 to 2021.

How can I support the library?

We appreciate your support! You can support us by donating to the Plainsboro Public Library Foundation or volunteering with the Friends of the Plainsboro Public Library group. Thank you!