Fee and Fine Schedule

Fees

Overdue Fines

The Library will charge an overdue fee for the purpose of recovering the cost of notification and to encourage the prompt return of materials. Prompt availability reduces the number of duplicate copies needed to supply the needs of the library’s customers.

Overdue fees will be charged for materials not returned at the end of the loan period. Fines begin the day after the date due.

The Library Director, and/or designee, is authorized by the Library Board to mitigate overdue fine amounts under approved guidelines whenever it is in the best interest of the library and the public.

Overdue Collection Fees

When overdue accounts reach a set amount (currently $75.00/overdues fines only - $25.00/lost materials), they are referred to our materials collection service, Unique, and a $10.00 referral fee is added. If an account is sent to County Collections for action (currently any $100.00 and over), their fee (currently $30.00) is passed through to the overdue account.

Video Definitions and Rental Fee 

A rental fee will be charged for the loan of more recent entertainment videos with the proceeds to be used to purchase additional videos. The rental fee will be collected at the time the videos are checked out, unless it is checked out at a self-check machine. All videos are subject to overdue fines for late return.

Lost and Damaged Materials 

Library staff has the responsibility to manage the assets of Anoka County Library in a fiscally prudent manner while still providing good customer service. Normal wear and tear of materials is to be expected as part of the cost of doing business. Library staff will not assess charges for minor damage to library materials (e.g. lost or damaged barcode labels, torn pages, marked pages, damaged covers, etc.), unless the item is damaged beyond repair. Overdue fines will still apply.

Overdue fees will not be assessed when a customer is charged replacement and processing fees for lost items or items damaged beyond repair.

These rules are provided to assist staff in dealing with instances when normal wear and tear is exceeded.

• Items Damaged Beyond Repair
  Library staff is responsible for assessing charges when items are returned in person or in the book drop. If there is doubt as to the origin of the damage, the customer will not be charged.

  When customers are charged for damages the cost will be based on the following guidelines.

  A processing fee of $8.00 will be added to the cost of print items and $10.00 for media materials, partially reimbursing the library’s reordering and processing cost incurred in replacing the lost or damaged items.

• Lost Items
  30 days after the due date, an item is declared lost; a replacement fee and processing fee are automatically billed to the customer at that time.

• Lost Mobile Hotspot
  Patrons will be billed a $50 replacement fee for lost mobile hotspots.

• Lost Key Card
  Key cards are checked out to patrons to use the Centennial Library meeting room before/after the library's regular hours. Key Cards will be considered lost if not returned within 48 hours and a $20 fee will be billed to the customer at that time.

• Lost Key Fobs
  Key fobs are issued to patrons who want to receive access to the Library Lockers at the Johnsville, Mississippi, Northtown, and St. Francis libraries at times when those libraries are not open. Patrons will be billed a $10 replacement fee for a lost key fob.

• In-Kind Replacements
  In-Kind Replacements will not be accepted.

• Refunds
  Refunds will not be made for materials for which a customer has lost and paid.

User Fee

ACL will ‘pass on’ to the user the actual cost of fees it is charged for the cost of obtaining material ordered by a customer.

Library Card Replacement

The library will assess a fee of $2.00 to replace a lost library card for a currently registered borrower. Replacement cards will be reissued free of charge to individuals whose library card has expired. Replacement cards will also be reissued free of charge to borrowers who have damaged cards. Borrowers whose accounts have been barred or sent to Anoka County Collections will not receive reissued cards until their accounts have been cleared.

Non-Resident Library Card - $60 annually

Persons who do not live in Anoka County and persons residing outside of MELSA and the Minnesota State Borrower’s Compact areas may purchase a non-resident card at the standard MELSA price, currently $60 per year. The card will be honored at any MELSA library.

Prints / Copies on Library Equipment

Dishonored Check Fee

The current fee is $30.00. This fee is charged at the County and will change when County Finance and Central Services change the fee schedule for the County.

Meeting Room Service Fee

A $25 per hour (minimum charge $50) for any additional cleaning needed after meeting room use.

Sales

New Merchandise

The library may sell certain merchandise for the convenience of its users and/or that enhance the library program. Items will be sold at a price sufficient to recover the cost incurred by the library in providing it to the buyer.
Examples of merchandise available

Discarded / Used Books and other items:

NOTE: A different price may be set by the staff based upon condition, original cost, number of volumes, etc.

Loan Periods

Library materials will be loaned to users for the following loan periods:

Process

This policy is reviewed every four (4) years by the Library Director (or designee) who makes recommendations to the Library Board Policy Committee.  The Committee reviews and revises as necessary, endorses and advances to the full Library Board for approval.

Policy History

Date Approved:  September 17, 2018
Next Review Date:  September 17, 2022