Dartmouth Public Library Doing Away With Overdue Fines
DARTMOUTH (WBSM) — Those who use the Dartmouth Public Library will no longer have to pay overdue fines if they return books or other physical media past their due date.
The move is part of the library’s new Strategic Plan that was announced at the October 7 meeting of the Dartmouth Select Board.
“This plan has been a long time coming, and will make the libraries an even better place,” said Dina St. Pierre, Dartmouth Director of Libraries. “Going fine free is huge for the libraries and the community, the plan is already positively impacting our patrons.”
The five-year plan, approved in September by the Board of Library Trustees and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, “includes new mission and vision statements and identifies core values and identifies core values and strategic priorities the libraries will follow,” the Town of Dartmouth said in a release.
It marks the first time the library has identified core values, which are: access, diversity, equity and inclusion, lifelong learning and education and intellectual freedom.
As part of its effort to be more equitable, the library is eliminating overdue fines on most physical materials, including books, audiobooks, DVDs, Blu-rays, magazines and CDs.
Both the North Branch and Southworth Libraries will soon begin circulating upgraded internet hotspot devices, and Southworth will soon have new public and staff computers as well.
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