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We get it. Life can get in the way, and library materials are suddenly overdue, with fines building.

Beginning Nov. 1 the Lake Wales Public Library no longer charges daily overdue fines on their materials. Existing overdue fines will be removed from Lake Wales' materials.

The library's goal is to provide full access to their books, movies, magazines, electronic resources and services without undue financial hardships to valued customers.

Recognizing the financial barriers overdue fines can sometimes cause, the Lake Wales Library Board approved the elimination of overdue fines at their Sept. 25 meeting.

The Lake Wales Public Library's Overdue Fine Free program encourages people who still have LWPL's overdue materials, to bring the materials back, with no financial penalty. If you have existing fines from LWPL materials, those fines are gone. Return to the Lake Wales Public Library and use our collection and services with no cost assessed.

The Lake Wales Public Library will continue to remind customers when their due date is approaching. If materials are kept by a borrower over 30 days past the date they were scheduled for return these items are considered lost and the customer's library record will be assessed the cost of replacement. Additionally, the patron will lose library privileges and services until the materials are returned or paid for. Likewise, customers are responsible for the cost of damaged materials.

Mayor Eugene Fultz stated, "I applaud the Lake Wales Library Board's action ending overdue fine charges at the Lake Wales Public Library. We want to encourage our community to utilize our wonderful library and have access to all it offers."

The Lake Wales Public Library is a municipal department of the City of Lake Wales. It is also one of 18 locations in the Polk County Library Cooperative. The overdue fine free policy applies to materials owned by the Lake Wales Public Library only. Overdue fines will still be assessed on materials owned by our PCLC partners.

"Less than 1% of the Lake Wales Public Library's annual revenues come from overdue fines," states Paula Alford, chairman of the Lake Wales Library Board. "The Lake Wales Library Board wants to encourage the use of our library. If you feel you 'owe' us something I would encourage you to donate to our non-profit support group, the Lake Wales Library Association."

For a complete overview of our new Overdue Fine Free policy call the library, 863-678-4004, email library@lakewalesfl.gov or visit our website http://www.lakewalesfl.gov/library.