Column: Library offers a one-time ‘fine forgiveness'

Do you have any overdue library materials hanging around your house?

From Jan. 3 through Jan. 9, you will have the chance to turn in these materials without paying a fine for them.

“Fine Forgiveness Week” will be observed at every location of the Neuse Regional Library system.

Libraries in the system include the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library, the LaGrange Public Library, the Pink Hill Public Library, the Greene County Public Library, the Trenton Public Library, the Pollocksville Public Library, the Maysville Public Library and the Comfort Public Library.

With just a few exceptions, all materials returned to the library’s headquarters and branches, no matter how overdue, will be accepted and checked in without incurring any fee to the patron’s card.

The goals of “Fine Forgiveness Week” are simple.

First, the library wants to regain multitudes of books and other items currently missing from the system’s collections.

Most of us have had the unfortunate experience of checking the card catalog for a book only to find the book has been checked out or listed as missing. For me, that book is always one critical to my research.

But missing materials are more than personal aggravation. Missing materials mean the loss of public investment in our library collection.

“Library materials belong to the public,” Agnes Ho, director of libraries, said. “We have noticed that many materials in our system are long overdue, which both prevents the materials from ever being checked out again and also prevents the patron from ever using the Library again.

“We hope that by making this one-time opportunity available to our patrons, we can reclaim some of our long-lost materials while also allowing patrons to continue using their Library.”

Second, the library wants to clear its “books” of all overdue items so that all patrons can begin the New Year in good standing.

“We are offering this program to our patrons as a late Christmas present and a way to usher in the New Year with a fresh start on everyone’s library record,” Ho added.

Certain materials are exempt from the fine-forgiveness program.

VHS cassettes, DVDs and computer software and games are exempt from this program. All other materials are eligible for fine forgiveness.

So if you have a copy of a best seller from 1988 that you have had out so long you are embarrassed to return the book, now is the time to turn it into the library – fine free.

You will feel so much better about yourself because you know that you are being a good citizen.

And the library will be able to list that book or other items as available in its holdings.

Other patrons will appreciate your returning the items.

In fact, you may be holding the exact items I have been waiting for.

Take advantage of this window of graciousness. Save yourself some money, as well.

I would love to see books and other items flooding back into our collection so that more of our materials will be available to the reading public.

Do the right thing. You’ll be glad you did.

For more information about “Fine Forgiveness Week,” please call 252-527-7066, Ext.120.

Mike Parker is a columnist for The Free Press. You can reach him at mparker16@suddenlink.net or in care of this newspaper.