Fine Free Policy

We are a now a fine free library. We do not charge fines on overdue materials in any format.

Library cards cost $10 annually, and we do still charge fees for some services, like using the public-access computers and making copies.

Cannon Beach Library Fine Free Policy:

• Library materials are due two weeks after they are checked out.
• Patrons will receive notices reminding them when they have overdue materials.
• Patrons will be charged replacement fees for materials not returned within 49 days of the due date (28 days for new books and DVDs). The library cards of patrons with materials not returned by the 49- or 28-day deadlines will be suspended. Those charges will be cleared, and library cards reinstated once the items are returned or replaced.
• Patrons are responsible for replacement charges for lost or damaged materials.
• Materials can easily be renewed by phone or email, and items may be returned any time in the outside drop box.

Going fine free is a small step in removing barriers for those who rely on library access the most!

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Patron FAQs

Are there still due dates?
Yes. Library materials still have two-week due dates and patrons are still expected to return materials within that window. Patrons will be charged a replacement cost for items that aren’t returned within 49 days of the due date (28 days for new materials/green dot books). Replacement charges will be cleared when the items are returned or replaced.

Sometimes I’ve kept books longer than the due date because I needed more time, or I wasn’t in town to return them, and just planned on paying my fine. What should I do now?
We ask that patrons bear their fellow library users in mind when keeping materials past due dates, especially new and popular titles. We also offer easy ways to renew via phone or email. New materials/green dot books that can’t be renewed can be returned and checked out again.

Won’t removing fines take away the incentive to return materials within the due dates?
Most libraries that have gone fine free do not report an increase in later returns – in fact, they report the opposite.

How does eliminating fines impact the library’s budget? 
Library fines made up a very small part of the library’s budget. Attempts to collect fines often cost the library more than the amount collected.