EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Public Libraries will no longer be charging fines on overdue materials, the department and the administration announced late last week.

The elimination of overdue fines will be effective, January 7, 2022. Patrons are encouraged to return materials on time and lost or damaged items will still incur replacement costs.

“Our library’s mission to encourage a love of reading and learning in everyone,” Library Director Joyce May said. “There’s nothing we love more than to see people borrowing our materials and we strive to see even more of it in 2022.”

In June of 2021, the library stopped collecting fines on juvenile and young adult materials. This change, the administration claimed, was well received and the library did not see a decrease in children’s materials being returned in a timely manner. The elimination of overdue fines is now being extended to all materials, including adult books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs.

According to the city, libraries have determined late fines are ineffective and tend to discourage or stop people from using the library. Eliminating fines ensures that everyone in the community has equal access to library books, materials, and services.

“I am so proud that East Providence is joining over 37 other communities in Rhode Island and thousands of municipalities throughout the nation to remove this barrier to library usage,” said Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “Often it is the people who need the library most who stay away because of fines.”