The Plainsboro Public Library has announced that after April 4, the library will no longer charge fees for books and other items that are returned late. Patrons whose cards were blocked because of unpaid late fees will once again be able to check out materials. The fees will be erased.

“By voting to go fine-free, the Plainsboro Library Board of Trustees has made the library a more welcoming and accessible place,” explained  Library Director Darren Miguez. “Our mission is to inspire life-long learning, create understanding, and make the community a better place. Going fine-free fully supports this mission and removes barriers that prevent access for some in our community . . .”   Miguez added that fees would still be charged for lost and damaged books.

Check-out periods for DVDs will be updated to correspond with those for book check-outs,  i.e., new DVDs may be borrowed for two weeks, and other DVDs will be available for three weeks.

The library will be celebrating its 12th year in the current building in April. Miguez says that introducing the fine-free policy is “a great way to celebrate the anniversary of the community’s beautiful library building that Plainsboro’s residents worked so hard to create.”