The Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Public Library will no longer charge fines on overdue library materials, ensuring the library’s mission to serve the community without exception by providing access to books, materials, and programs to support lifelong education, personal growth, and creativity. Existing overdue fines on Upper Darby Township residents’ library cards will be waived, and materials owned by the library will not accrue overdue fines. This policy was adopted unanimously by the Library Board of Trustees at their September 26, 2022 meeting.
Although the library and its materials and services are free to the community, overdue fines can keep people away from the library and inequitably restrict access to library resources. Unpaid overdue fines prevent cardholders from using and benefiting from library materials and services. Fines disproportionately affect library users who are low income. Going fine-free removes barriers so that all members of the community can enjoy the library. “The community is stronger when everyone has equal access to the programs, services, and materials they need to pursue their education, career, and life goals”, stated the Director of Library Services, Jennifer Stock. “Removing overdue fines supports the Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Library’s Strategic Plan objective to increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion actions to serve as an open and welcome place for all community members.”
Removing overdue fines does not mean that the library will be removing fees for replacing lost or damaged books. Additionally, books that are considered long overdue would be billed as lost. When the library user returns the book in the condition in which it was borrowed, the replacement fee will be removed from their record. Otherwise, the user will be required to pay the fee to replace the lost or damaged book to keep their account in good standing.
A member of the Delaware County Libraries system, the library has three locations (Sellers Memorial Branch, Municipal Branch, and Primos Branch) in Upper Darby Township, the sixth-largest municipality in Pennsylvania, and serves its 86,000 residents. The Upper Darby Township & Sellers Memorial Free Public Library joins other local libraries in adopting fine-free practices, including Newtown Public Library, Ridley Park Public Library, and Media-Upper Providence Free Library in Delaware County, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and several libraries in Montgomery County. For information on the library and its services, please visit their website at www.udlibraries.org.