“The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library intends to soon stop fining patrons for overdue books, joining a growing national trend to support some of the most vulnerable library patrons.”
Author: Lisa Gieskes
Bay County Library System Goes Fine Free
“What’s important is that people use their libraries. We want to make sure that our community has access to the materials and services we provide,” said a statement from the BCLS. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not charged any overdue fines so patrons had one less thing to worry about, so we are already positioned to join the many other libraries across the state who are fine free. Fines account for less than one-half of one percent of our revenues.”
‘Tiny house’ Indoor Village Opening
“Minneapolis nonprofit Avivo is opening an indoor ‘village’ with ‘tiny houses’ in March, providing a COVID-safe and secure place for 100 adults. The two-year pilot program, called Avivo Village, could become a post-pandemic template for private emergency shelters in place of the usual congregate sleeping spaces.”
Social Equity Policy at San Diego Library Boosting Branches in Low-Income Neighborhoods
“While libraries all over the country have followed suit on eliminating fines, [Executive Director] Jones said she believes San Diego is the only library system that has a social equity component to its matching funds policy.”
2020 Year in Review
Booklist Committee Volunteers Needed
From picture books onwards, “home” as a predictable, stable and safe place is a central subject despite a significant percentage of people who experience homelessness. These experiences are not often written about and if they are, not positively reflected in literature. To create more equitable literacy learning environments, as well as providing a counterpoint to the negative images so often created, we need opportunities to explore economic diversity and to challenge harmful discourses about people experiencing homelessness.
With this in mind, the Hunger, Homelessness and Poverty Task Force of SRRT (HHPTF) is creating a booklist of recommended books for all ages, as well as a guide to help with selecting books that are respectful and supportive of people who are experiencing homelessness.
Interested? Email us!
Get Out the Vote
HHPTF Voting Template for Libraries
The goal of this template is to help your library:
• Research and offer local/statewide voting and registration information tailored to your community.
• Provide that specific information both in print (posting on the door, posting inside the library and in other places in the community) and virtually (on your website, Facebook page and however else you are able to reach them).
Library receives $50,000 to Help with Unexpected Coronavirus Expenses
Champaign Public Library Declares No More Overdue Fines
“Best news ever. This is seriously a game changer for me. I had late fees from when I was in the hospital and wouldn’t go back because I couldn’t afford to pay them.”
Congress Considers Emergency Funding for Public Libraries
The Library Stabilization Fund Act would provide $2 billion in emergency relief funding to libraries across the country.