Vancouver Island Regional Library Now Fine Free

The Vancouver Island regional library is officially fine free.

With branches all over the Island, the library has permanently removed late fees on all adult materials, after previously waiving fines on young adult and children’s items.

“This decision from our Board means more families will have access to reading and educational materials, more seniors will be able to connect with their libraries, and no one will suffer the indignity and embarrassment of punitive fines restricting their ability to read, watch, and listen to the 750,000 physical items in our collection,” says Ben Hyman, VIRL’s Executive Director.

“I would like to thank staff for their advocacy and vision to make our system fine free, and our Board for supporting this values-aligned outcome.”

Anyone with existing fines has also had them removed from their account as part of the change.

Due dates and late returns are not an issue with digital materials, which now constitute one-third of the items borrowed by local residents.