The mission of the Minot Public Library is to connect, enrich and inspire. To that end, the staff and Board of the Library believe library services are particularly essential to the youth of the Minot community and have decided that effective July 1 children will no longer accrue fines for overdue materials.

“We do not believe children should be restricted from using Library services because of situations they can’t always control,” said Library Board Vice President Kari Kvigne.

Kvigne went on to explain children are not usually responsible for getting themselves to the Library to return items, yet they are then unable to check out materials.

Children’s Librarian, Paulette Nelson, said “We would rather have the Minot youth use the Library and get our materials back late than to hear youth are not coming to the Library because of fines.”

Nelson clarified lost or damaged materials will still need to be paid for and staff will continue to follow current procedures for collecting long-overdue items.

“This isn’t about removing accountability,” Nelson said. “The point of allowing children to be exempt from overdue fines is to remove barriers.”

On Jan. 28, the American Library Association passed a resolution encouraging all libraries to explore eliminating monetary fines. The ALA passed this resolution because research has shown that fines are a form of social inequity and negatively impact many who most need to use library services.

Minot Public Library’s Director, Janet Anderson, added that processing fines also takes a considerable amount of staff time, but the ultimate goal of eliminating fines for youth is to welcome people back to the Library.

“We can’t fulfill our mission if people are avoiding the Library because they have $20 in fines for books they didn’t return in second grade,” Anderson said. “It’s a disservice to the young people of Minot and also bad public relations.”

When asked if this elimination of fines might be expanded, Anderson said it is a possibility.

“My priority with eliminating fines for children is to make sure area youth can use the Library, but I understand there are other vulnerable populations who may struggle with this barrier,” she said.

The Minot Public Library staff and Board will continue to consider other ways to eliminate barriers and hope to have more “Fine Forgiveness” programs such as the food drive they did in April.

Youth under the age of 17 need to have a parent or guardian sign their library card application and the adult will also be issued a library card if he/she doesn’t have one. Youth library cards at the Minot Public Library will be fine-free beginning July 1 and Library staff encourage all youth to stop by the Library with their parent or guardian to get a new library card or renew an existing library card.

“Existing cardholders will automatically be updated, but it’s always good to make sure we have current information,” Anderson explained. “It’s the perfect time to return all of those overdue books you haven’t wanted to drop off.”

Nelson summed up the reason she believes this is a good move by saying, “We see a lot of kids during the summer; we know how much reading and test scores drop off during these long months when school is out, so whatever we can do to get books into the hands of more kids is a good move!”

Nelson also said children are always welcome to stop in the Library and attend programs even if they don’t have library cards, however those who are eight and younger must be accompanied by an adult as outlined by the ND Department of Human Services.

For more information on library cards, fines, youth programs or anything else, call the Minot Public Library at 852-1045.