From 1 July, Gore District Libraries will officially go fines free. A move aimed at making the library a more welcoming and inclusive space for everyone in the community.
The new policy means no more late fees on overdue books, with all existing fines also being wiped. Whether you're a busy parent, a student juggling deadlines, or just someone who lost track of time, you’ll now be able to borrow with less stress and more freedom.
Library staff will continue to send reminders to help borrowers return items on time, and lost or damaged books will still need to be paid for. But overall, the goal is simple: remove barriers and encourage more people to discover the joy of reading.
This change reflects a growing movement among libraries nationwide to focus on access over penalties. Gore District Libraries are proud to take this step towards a more community-focused future.
Here’s what you need to know:
We want to make the library more accessible to everyone in the community. By going fines free, we’re removing a barrier that might prevent people from using the library. No one should miss out on the joy of reading, learning, and exploring just because of overdue fees.
Yes! All existing overdue fines will be waived. Moving forward, there will be no more late fees, so you can borrow and enjoy books without worrying about fines piling up.
We’ll still send out friendly reminders to let you know when a book is due. The library will continue to rely on our awesome community of borrowers to return books on time, and we’ll support everyone by giving plenty of notice before items are overdue.
Yes, you’ll still get reminders when your books are due to be returned. These will help you stay on top of things, but don’t worry there will be no fines if you’re a little late.
If you lose or damage an item, we’ll ask you to either replace it or pay for the replacement cost. We understand accidents happen, but we want to keep our collection in great shape for everyone to enjoy.
Not at all! All our programs, events, and services will continue as normal. Going fines free is just one part of our commitment to making the library a more inclusive and accessible space for everyone.
