Fine Free

Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library is fine free-with no overdue fines on books and media-as of September 1, 2024.

Here’s what that means for our patrons:

What is fine free? We eliminated overdue fines for books, audiobooks, movies, music, and games. We also waived previous overdue fines, so everyone is starting with a clean slate! (NOTE: If your account incurred overdue fines for delinquent returns on Museum Passes, WiFi Hotspots, or room usage, those fines will still need to be paid.)

Are there any restrictions on borrowing if items are overdue? Yes. Once an item is more than 14 days overdue, you will be billed for the replacement cost. If you have more than $20 in replacement costs on your card, you will be unable to check out any items. Once you return your materials the replacement costs will be waived, and no overdue fines will be charged.

What about other library materials? The Library still charges overdue fines for a few select things including: Museum Passes; Hot Spots; and Room Checkouts. Please note this does not include fees for previously lost or damaged items, patrons are still responsible for those costs.

What about other fines and fees? The Library still charges fees for lost, non-returned, and damaged items.

Why is the Library now fine free? The library’s leaders chose to go fine free to increase access to the collection and encourage people to come back to the Library. There is a misconception that having overdue fines means that patrons can’t use any of our services or attend our programs. An inability to pay overdue fines causes some patrons to stop coming to the Library. By eliminating overdue fines, we hope to make it easier for all people to visit the Library, borrow materials, and access our services.

Will this have a negative financial impact on the Library? No. Fines account for less than 0.5% of the library’s operating budget and have been steadily decreasing.