COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Richland Library has announced all locations will now be fine free.
This means customers will not be charged overdue fines on books, CDs, DVDs and other regular circulating materials that are a part of the adult collection.
Customers are still encouraged to renew or return items on their due dates as they normally would.
"This policy change is focused on access and equity," said Richland Library Chief Program and Innovation Officer Tony Tallent. "By going fine free, we hope to encourage prior customers to come back to the library and attract new customers to experience what we have to offer - without worrying about overdue fines."
Richland library says their decision joins the Charleston County Public Library as the only two public libraries in the state that no longer accrue overdue fines on any library materials.
The library says almost 70,000 people benefit from having their fines erased and more than 23,000 customers whose accounts were blocked due to overdue fines have now been reinstated.
The Richland Library previously removed fines on children's materials in 2015 and on teen materials in 2016.
