Roseville library reviews fines and fees policy; public speaker urges fine-free model

Roseville City Librarian Norinda Sufi reported to the Roseville Library Board on May 19 that the library’s current fines and fees policy charges 25 cents per day for overdue items, assesses full replacement cost for damaged and lost materials and refers accounts with more than $25 unpaid for 60 days to a collections agency.

Sufi said printing fees are 20 cents per black-and-white page and 50 cents for color, and that fines and fees currently account for approximately 14 percent of the library’s materials budget. “This revenue goes back into the acquisitions and the maintenance of our collections,” Sufi said.

Sufi told the board the library offers multiple ways for patrons to avoid fines, including three-week initial loan periods with up to three renewals if no hold exists, a 12-week extended-use option if an item is not on hold, and courtesy email reminders. She said staff are examining alternative revenue and operational options but that the department is “not yet prepared to implement any changes regarding fines and fees in fiscal year ’26.”

During public comment, a resident who identified herself as a multi-generation Roseville resident urged the board to adopt a fine-free model. “I’m a voice from the public, in favor of a fine-free model,” the resident said. She asked the board to consider eliminating overdue fines, at minimum for children’s materials, while still charging for lost items.

Board members asked how a no-fines policy would preserve timely returns and fair access. Sufi said staff will need to study system and operational impacts and explore options used by other libraries. She also agreed to circulate the written report to board members after the meeting.

No motion or vote to change fines and fees took place at the meeting. Sufi said her team will continue data analysis and operational planning and will return with proposals if staff recommend changes.