The Dallas Public Library is incentivizing treats rather than tricks this month, waiving fines.
For every 15 minutes read in October, the Dallas Public Library will be forgiving $1 in fees.
While the library eliminated late fees in 2019, readers can still rack up fees for lost or damaged books. Lost or damaged items cost a $17 processing fee plus the cost of the material.
According to a City memorandum, over 16% of library card holders are currently blocked from checking out materials due to fees.
October’s “The Big Read Down” challenge incentivizes users to read off their fees and return to the library.
In addition to logging minutes read, library customers can also count signing up for library e-materials or participating in library programs toward eliminating fees.
A similar program ran throughout the spring. During that period, Dallas library users logged over 322,275 minutes of reading and 1,003 library activities completed to forgive fees blocking their library cards.
If a library user does not have any fines, they can donate their logged time to help pay others’ fees. Donated minutes will be distributed across library branches based on the poverty rate in that area, aiming to alleviate the fees of lower-income families and individuals.
“By offering an opportunity to pay off these fines non-monetarily, the Library has the potential to equitably welcome back library card holders that are blocked from borrowing materials,” read a City memo.
“The Big Read Down” program will run from October 1 through October 30.
The Dallas Public Library has 30 different branches across the Metroplex.
Library cards are free to sign up for and offer access to physical and audiobooks, movies, music, and magazines. Additionally, library cardholders can access the library’s free WiFi, computers, and printers.
The Dallas Public Library frequently hosts challenges such as “The Big Read Down.” It also hosts “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten,” where children can earn prizes for reaching reading milestones.