Kitsap library system eliminates late fines

BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) -- The Kitsap Regional Library says it will no longer issue daily fines for overdue items.

The Kitsap Sun reports that the library forgave outstanding late fines and stopped collecting them as of Thursday.

It joins a growing number of libraries eliminating overdue fines, including Salt Lake City, Columbus, Ohio, and Nashville, Tennessee.

Kitsap Library Director Jill Jean says fines often prevent people from using the library so they wanted to remove that barrier.

The library, which serves about 258,000 residents, will still collect fees for lost or damaged materials.

The library instituted late fines in the mid-'90s as an incentive for people to bring materials back on time, but studies across the U.S. have shown the fines have little effect on returns.