“Every day is a day for learning. Chicagoans need and deserve access to information and technology every day of the week. Adding Sunday hours in libraries across the city is an important step in our commitment to equity and access,” said CPL Commissioner Chris Brown. “Mayor Lightfoot’s leadership and support for expanded Sunday hours has been instrumental in bringing this opportunity to all Chicagoans.”
Category: government
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Wants to Get Rid of Late Fines
“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.”
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.”
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.”
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
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.
Fine Free Map
The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) created an interactive map of libraries that have gone fine free (regularly updated).
Reimagining Charlotte’s Public Library
Charlotte will construct a new, $100 million Main Library uptown.
Lee Keesler, CEO of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, visited more than 25 community spaces in five countries as part of his research for the new Main Library.
Phoenix Public Library Goes Fine Free
Starting November 18, 2019, Phoenix Public Library is fine free. Phoenix will be the first of the 5 largest U.S. cities to adopt a fine free program.