AUSTIN, Texas — Things may be changing for those who borrow books from Austin public libraries, because people who turn in books late may not have to pay a fee.
It's an idea the City's Library Commission is going to be checking out over the next month.
If you walk into the Austin Public Library, you can be transported to a land filled with stories.
"I like libraries; libraries are my favorite places in the city," said Olivia Ott. "It is a super cool library."
Ott has been coming to the Central Library since it opened in 2017 and says in that time she's seen her fair share of late fees. Hearing the City is looking at removing the fees has her excited.
"They're an imperfect solution to a perfectly sensible problem," said Ott.
"That's something that we'll be studying and looking at as well," said Catherine Hanna, the chair of the Library Commission.
Hanna and two other commissioners will be looking at the idea.
Other cities across the country have done the same. Part of the reason is they say late fines restrict access to the library.
"If you look at the City of Austin's Strategic Direction of economic opportunity and inclusiveness and life-long learning, I think that's consistent with what Austin stands for," said Hanna.
In 2019's fiscal year, the library collected more than $200,000 in fees – $206,575 to be exact. That's money that then went into the City's general fund.
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This plan to drop fees would be part of the City's budget review, and the city council would have to vote in favor of it.
"It may not be feasible, but our discussion was, 'Let's go ahead and look at it,'" said Hanna.
As for Ott, she is hoping the commission and the city council take action.
"I think that the problem that you don't bring books back gets solved at the end stage when they eventualy say that you can no longer borrow another book till you bring our books back," said Ott.
Hanna hopes to have a recommendation for the commission next month.
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