SARASOTA – Sarasota County commissioners voted unanimously this week to end the practice. Officials believe charging fees for the late return of books discourages people from signing up for library cards.
County libraries had charged $0.25 a day for books and CDs, and $1 a day for videos and DVDs, suspending the borrower’s account when fines reached $25. These fines will no longer apply, although library users will still be charged for lost or damaged materials.