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Happy Canadian Library month

October is Canadian Library Month and the Rossland Public Library is celebrating.
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October is Canadian Library Month and the Rossland Public Library is celebrating by removing late fees from children’s books and children’s memberships.

“Children often have no control over returning their library books so charging them late fees is unfair,” said library director Beverley Rintoul.

The library, which celebrated its 78th anniversary earlier in October, has a new mission statement renewing its commitment to lifelong learning and literacy. Enabling children and their families to borrow children’s books without worrying about late fees removes a barrier to early literacy skills.

The Rossland library isn’t the first to remove late fees. Chicago Public Library has done research finding that materials are returned on time 95% of the time, regardless of late fees.

The removal of late fees doesn’t mean you can keep the books indefinitely. Members will continue to receive overdue notices and if they keep the books too long, they will be billed for the cost of the book.

Late fees haven’t been charged since the beginning of October and all older late fees have been cleared from children’s cards. If people feel they need to make amends for keeping books past their due date, they can make a donation to the library.