Starting Friday, the Louisville Free Public Library will double its 10-cent per day fine for overdue books to help restore Sunday hours at several branches. The increase was part of Mayor Greg Fischer's 2011-12 budget proposal that was approved by the Metro Council last week, and is the first increase since 1994.The additional fine won't apply to children's books, however.From the Courier-Journal:"People, of course, can avoid the (overdue) fee entirely, if they bring the book back on time," (Library Director Craigh) Buthod said.
The library was forced to end Sunday hours at the seven branches in December 2008 as part of an extensive plan by the administration of then-Mayor Jerry Abramson to deal with revenue shortfalls.
Buthod said that the increased fee for adult overdue books is expected to increase revenue from overdue book fines by around $200,000 next fiscal year starting July 1. The system currently gets about $350,000 a year from fines.
The additional money will cover most of the estimated cost of adding Sunday library hours, beginning around mid-August at the Main Library and the Shawnee, Okolona, Iroquois, Southwest, Bon Air and St. Matthews branches. Those same branches were the ones that were open on Sundays before the 2008 cutbacks.
