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Fine Free Status - VA Public Libraries
Updated:8.14.26Total Libraries (Both Fully & Partial):62
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If you'd like to add or correct a listing, contact reagen.thalacker@lva.virginia.gov
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 Data Participation Rate:78.72%
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LibraryLast Updated?Fine Free (x)As of when?NotesAfterwards -- What data are you using to show how going "fine free" has been a positive move for your library?
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Alexandria LibraryYesJuly 1, 2021
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Alleghany Highlands Regional LibraryNo
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Amherst County Public Library10.25.22YesFebruary 27, 2023
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Appomattox Regional Library8.4.21YesJuly 5, 2023The Board of Trustees approved going fine-free for all materials at its March 21, 2023 meeting. Patrons will still be billed for long overdue items and damaged items. Long overdue fees will be eliminated on return of the items.
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Arlington County Public Library7.14.21YesJuly 1, 2020
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Augusta County Library8.4.21Yes2020
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Bedford Public Library System8.10.26Yes (Partial)Sept 1, 2022Exceptions are 14 day/new books and the non-book things like hotspots, telescopes, etc
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Blackwater Regional Library11.16.23YesMay 1, 2024Effective 5.1.24. We will amnesty all overdue fines on May 1st as well as all charges (lost items, etc.) that occurred before 2020.
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Bland County Public Library6.30.22Yes (Youth)July 1, 2019
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Blue Ridge Regional Library8.4.21NoWe were fine free during the pandemic but went back to charging fines July 1, 2021.
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Botetourt County Library2.3.22YesMarch 1, 2019Fine-free since pandemic, seamless transition to fine-free by not adding revenue line back in after 2 years' absence
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Bristol Public Library7.14.21YesJuly 1, 2021Fine Free for all ages July 1, 2021We reported to our Cities the increase in new library cards as a result of going fine-free. Patron comments about being fine-free, and the increase in return of items that were out. We compiled circulation stats for this information.
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Buchanan County Public Library6.27.22NoWe increased our grace period. Items are automatically renewed 1 time unless on hold for another patron. All jue card fines are waived when patron turns 18.
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Campbell County Public LibraryNo
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Caroline County Library6.28.22NoWe waived fines while we were closed to the public, but that ended when we reopened.
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Central Rappahannock Regional Library12.19.22YesJanuary 1, 2023We have been fine free on all teen and juevnile amterials since July 1, 2018. Now fine free on all materials.
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Central Virginia Regional Library8.4.21YesMarch 2020Fine-free since the pandemic. No plans to go back.
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Charlotte County Library2.17.22YesJanuary 1993Fine free for 30 years
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Chesapeake Public Library7.14.21YesMarch 2020
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Chesterfield Public Library7.14.21YesPandemicFine-free since the pandemic, no plans to go back, but no formal fine-free policy either
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Clifton Forge Public LibraryNo
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Colonial Heights Public LibraryNo
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Craig County Public LibraryNo
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Culpeper County Library12.22.22YesJuly 2019Still charge $1.00/day overdue for ILL's and WiFi units
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Eastern Shore Public Library8.12.26Yes2020ESPL does not charge overdue fines. We do still charge for lost or damaged items.
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Essex Public Library8.10.26YesOctober 2021
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Fairfax County Public Library2.18.22YesJan 1 2022
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Fauquier County Public Library8.10.26NoWe have one day grace for returning items; fine is .15 per day after grace period; charge $1/day for mobile hotspots; offer a one time $25 charge for those with large fines
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Fluvanna County Public Library8.10.26NoWe went fine free during pandemic but they have been reinstated. We also have a grace period and except donations of books, DVD, music CD, puzzles, or even food for the food pantry to waive fines.
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Franklin County Public Library5.9.24No
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Galax-Carroll Regional Library2.16.23YesFebruary 8, 2022Fine-free during pandemic; back to fines for a short time; proposed to Board to go fine-free for the Regional Library's 40 year Anniversary. After one year, at the January Board meeting, trustees voted to continue the fine-free status until reassessment is needed. TKF
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Gloucester LibraryNo
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Halifax County-South Boston LibraryNoWe do offer "Food for Fines" and "Supplies for Fines" where patrons can pay off their fines by donating a shelf stable food item for people or pets. Or by bringing in school supplies. Each item is $3 off of their fine, and all of the food and materials are donated to local food banks or schools. This has been our practice for a number of years now and works really well!
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Hampton Public Library8.11.26YesMay 5, 2023Juvenile and teen borrowers went fine free June 1, 2022. All other borrower types fine free April 5, 2023. We still charge for fines related to Interlibrary Loans.
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Handley Regional Library10.4.22Yes (Youth)July 1, 2022all youth materials are fine free
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Henrico County Public Library6.30.22Yes (Youth)Youth Items as of 3/20all youth materials are fine free
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Heritage Public Library9.2.21NoFine free during the pandemic. Fines have since been reinstated.
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Highland County Public Library8.4.21YesMarch 19, 2020, pandemicLibrary board adopted fine free policy permanently on 7.20.21
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Iris Brammer Public LibraryNo
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J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library9.23.22YesSeptember 1, 2022All materials are fine free.
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James L. Hamner Public Library1.26.24YesAfter 2015, before 2020
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Jefferson-Madison Regional Library8.10.26YesAs of July 1, 2026Still charge for overdue fines for ILLs, bestseller collection, museum passes, hotspots
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King & Queen County Public LibraryNo
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King William County LibraryNo
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Lancaster Community Library9.27.21NoOfficially we charge fines, but for children especially we do not enforce.
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Lewis Egerton Smoot Memorial Library8.10.26YesJuly 1, 2025
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Lonesome Pine Regional Library8.12.26No
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Loudoun County Public Library7.14.21YesAugust 2019
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Lynchburg Public Library8.26.22YesSeptember 1, 2022Fine free for all approved for September 2022, with the exception of adult new books and speciality items such as the telescope. Fine free for youth materials implemented July 2019.
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Madison County Library, Inc.NoFine free during the pandemic. Fines have been reinstated,
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Manassas Park City Library7.14.21Yes
Since the library opened in 2020
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Mary Riley Styles Public Library3.11.24YesJuly 1, 2020All materials are fine free, with the exception of overdue interlibrrary loan items borrowed by our patrons ($1/day). We did, howver, recently tweak our borrowing policies to ensure due dates are observed. Cards are now suspended/blocked if they have (1) 5 or more overdue books, even by one day, or (2) $30 or more in billed items (items are marked as billed if they are 30 days overdue). Blocks - and associated bills for up to 6 months - are immediately removed once items are returned.
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Massanutten Regional Library7.14.21YesNovember 2020
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Mathews Memorial Library8.4.21YesMarch 2020
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Mecklenburg County Public Library12.21.21No
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Meherrin Regional Library7.28.22Yes (Youth/YA)Juvenile/YA - July 13, 2022Board approved fine free overdue juvenile and YA books. Items will continue to be charged to Lost per ususal.
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Middlesex County Public Library8.10.26YesMarch 2020Board approved permanent fine free April 2022.Increase in cash donations at the front desk - fully covers what we normally received in fines.
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Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library6.27.22YesJuly 1, 2022Completely fine free as of July 1, 2022. Started with kids and teens in 2018.
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Newport News Public Library System3.13.23Yes3/10/23All materials are fine free.
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Norfolk Public Library7.14.21YesJuly 1, 2021Test period for fine-free from 7.1.21 - 6.30.22 -- to see how it works out
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Northumberland Public Library8.10.26Yes (Partial)June 2020We still charge $1.00 a day late fee for multimedia, DVDs and audiobooks. Also charge for lost and damaged items.
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Nottoway County Public LibraryYes (Partial)October 2021No fines for children's materialsWe have not publicized that the materials are fine free - it was difficult enough to get the board to agree - they worried that people would "take advantage" of it
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Orange County Public Library1.26.24YesJanuary 1, 2023We charge for lost items at 61 days late. We block cards at 30 days late. We have auto-renew.We asked in our customer survey. Of the 2,000 responses over 700 said it was one of the 3 things they most valued in our library services
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Pamunkey Regional LibraryNo
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Pearisburg Public Library8.11.26YesWe charge for lost items after 6 months (and put a block on the card).
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Petersburg Public LibraryNo
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Pittsylvania County Public Library6.30.22NoFines suspended from March 2020 through November 2020 but then reinstated.Would note that adding auto-renewal option in spring 2021 has decreased overdues and made patrons happy.
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Poquoson Public LibraryNo
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Portsmouth Public Library8.14.26No
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Powhatan County Public LibraryNo
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Prince William Public Libraries7.14.21YesJuly 1, 2021
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Pulaski County Public Library System2.17.22YesMarch 1, 2022
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Radford Public Library8.11.26YesOctober 2022None specific
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Rappahannock County Library8.10.26NoFine free during the pandemic
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Richmond County Public Library10.4.22Yes<2000Fine free as long as item(s) returned. After 45 days, items marked "lost" and charged following published fee schedule for lost items.
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Richmond Public Library7.14.21YesJanuary 2020
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Roanoke County Public Library7.14.21YesMarch 2020 - informallyOfficially fine free as of July 1, 2022
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Roanoke Public Libraries6.28.22YesJuly 1, 2022Still charge for lost or damaged items and ILL
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Rockbridge Regional Library12.21.21YesOctober 1, 2021Still charge for lost or damaged items
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Ruby B. Archie Public LibraryNo
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Russell County Public Library2.17.22YesJuly 1, 2021Stopped charging 3/2020 due to pandemic and made it a permanent policy as of 7.1.21; if books returned after lost letters are sent, patron charged $5 admin fee per book
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Salem Public Library5.31.22YesJuly 1, 2022
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Samuels Public LibraryNo
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Shenandoah County Library SystemNo
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Smyth County Public Library8.10.26Yes7/1/25
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Staunton Public Library8.10.26YesJuly 1, 2020Augusta, Staunton, and Waynesboro consortium eliminated juvenile overdues in 2017. Started planning for complete fine free initiative pre-pandemic, and it went into effect as an emergency measure in 3.2020; permanent change 7.1.2020.
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Suffolk Public Library System8.4.21Yes?According to myth and legend, was implemented by my predecessor due to City Council Members wanting to pay no fines for their accounts.
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Tazewell County Public Library6.27.22Yes (Partial)May 19, 2022TCPL eliminated fines on youth cards as trial period (May 19, 2022 - May 2023). More info: https://tcplweb.org/fine-free-cards-for-kids/
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Virginia Beach Public Library2.17.22YesJuly 1, 2021Virginia Beach Public Library (VBPL) stopped charging overdue fines on youth accounts (for children ages 0 to 17). Fine Free for all ages was added effective July 1, 2023. Fees for lost or damaged items still apply;
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Washington County Public Library System8.12.26YesFebruary 1, 2021Permanently fine free
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Waynesboro Public Library12.21.21YesFY20Consortium went fine free mid-pandemic
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Williamsburg Regional Library7.25.24YesFines eliminated Fall 2021, still charge $.50 a day for ILLs
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Wythe-Grayson Regional Library10.10.22​Trial period 2.28.22 - 2.8.232/28/22 Doing a trial period for going fine free, testing for 1 year, on all items but equipment and electronics. Mirroring GCRL as our consortial partner. ***WGRL suspended fines March 19, 2020 - June 30, 2021. Fines resumed July1, 2021. Fines are on all circulating materials. Fines are part of our revenue. Prior to COVID it was about $18,000. significant enough to reinstate. Prior to COVID the Board was willing to do a test on the impact of going partially (JUV) or completely fine free. They are still willing to review once we are back to more normal circulation behaviours.10-10-22: Staff stories from patrons. (anecdotal). Donations have increased. Some people just really want to pay a fine. Overdue items have stayed the same, no increase or decrease in volume. Fines was part of our revenue stream, in tracking this the amount of fines being collected, pre covid, was on a downward trend. The amount 'lost' is being absorbed from other areas of local funding and FOL help to offset more program costs.
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York County Public Library2.17.22YesAugust 12, 2021Started March 2020 during pademic, policy change August 2021
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