A decision by Tasmanian libraries to become the first in Australia to remove fines for overdue items has paid off.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Libraries Tasmania executive director Elizabeth Jack said after researching global trends it was decided in December 2018 to change the fee model and "make library services more attractive to the public".
"This change involved removing charges for overdue items, meaning that members no longer face financial penalties for late returns," Ms Jack said.
"With these changes, the number of members who owe money to Libraries Tasmania has decreased from 24,916 at the start on November 2018, to 4,780 at the end of March 2019.
"The money still owed is for lost or damaged books, which still incur a replacement fee based on their age and condition."
Under the new fee model, if a member fails to return items, they will eventually lose their borrowing privileges but borrowing rights will be restored once the overdue items are returned.
Ms Jack said the change was aimed at attracting new members.
As well there had been a name change from LINCS to Libraries Tasmania, promotion of its services and extra government investment in contemporary library resources.
"While many people have no difficulty in paying their fines, there are those who find this to be a significant financial impost and often choose not to return to the library if their book or other item is overdue," Ms Jack said.
"The effect of these combined initiatives has seen an increase in library membership, which had been in decline over the last decade.
"In the five months between 1 November 2018 and 31 March 2019, there has been an increase of 8,215 members, compared to a decrease of 935 members over the same period in the previous year.
"Every library across Tasmania has seen membership increase, with Launceston and Hobart each adding over 1,000 new members."
Ms Jack said membership increases had been across all age groups, with the greatest number of new members aged between 30 and 39 years (1,805).
"While some public libraries across Australia have stopped issuing fees on late returns, or are in the process of trailing a similar system, no other Australian state or territory library has taken this step," she said.
"While some public libraries across Australia have stopped issuing fees on late returns, or are in the process of trailing a similar system, no other Australian state or territory library has taken this step," she said.
Minister for Education and Training Jeremy Rockliff supported the move.
"Our government has an aspirational target of 100 per cent functional literacy for all Tasmanians," he said.
"Through removing fines for the return of overdue library books we are making it easier for people who can least afford to access books, improve their literacy and develop a love of learning."
Most popular
Libraries Tasmania says the most popular item/book for the year so far is Past Tense (2018) by Lee Child, the British author of the Jack Reacher thriller series.
The most popular author is James Patterson, an American author who writes across a range of genres, including detective and political thrillers.
Lee Child is second most popular. The most popular Patterson book for the same period is The First Lady (2019).