El Paso Public Libraries go ‘fine-free'
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – All overdue fines for El Paso Public Library (EPPL) materials have been officially eliminated, the City of El Paso announced on Tuesday, April 29, in a news release.
The City said this comes after the El Paso City Council approved this decision as a way to increase access to library resources.
While overdue fines have been forgiven, other fees, such as those for damaged or lost materials, will still apply, the City said.
'The change is expected to benefit many of the nearly 40,000 library patrons, including children, who had been blocked from borrowing due to unpaid fines. These patrons can now resume borrowing materials and enjoying the library's services once again,' read the news release by the City.
'We want to remove any barriers preventing our community from accessing valuable educational, informational, and recreational materials,' Norma Martinez, library director, said. 'By eliminating fines, we hope to make it easier for all El Pasoans to engage with our library and take full advantage of the resources available.'
Previously, patrons were charged 15 cents per day for each overdue item and were blocked from borrowing once fines reached $5, the City said.
The City said that recent studies have shown that late fees do not effectively encourage timely returns and, in some cases, can deter the return of library materials.
Library systems nationwide that have gone 'fine-free,' including cities like Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, report higher rates of material returns and greater patron satisfaction, the City said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
City announces feedback sessions for park system
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The City of Colorado Springs is inviting the community to participate in the 2026 Park System Master Plan process with an online survey and a series of public meetings. The City said the survey and public meetings will provide an opportunity for citizens to express their ideas and help shape the future of Colorado Springs parks, recreation amenities, trails, and open spaces. The online survey will be available starting on Friday, June 13, and close on Sunday, Aug. 3. In addition to the survey, those in the community are invited to a series of in-person public sessions. Date Time Location Tuesday, June 24 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Briargate YMCA located at 4025 Family Place Wednesday, June 25 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Southeast Armed Services YMCA located at 2190 Jet Wing Drive Wednesday, July 9 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Online: Register The City said the 2026 Park System Master Plan will guide the development and sustainability of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services assets including parks, trail systems, open space and natural areas, community centers, recreation and cultural services programming, and City enterprises including Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, golf courses, and cemeteries. The updated master plan will provide a framework for taking care of the park system and addressing diverse desires of the City's community for the next 10 to 15 years, according to the City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Las Cruces Public Schools to be closed on Juneteenth
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — All administrative offices at Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth, the district said in a press release. The district will resume business hours on Friday, June 20. 'Recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth serves as a time for reflection, education and the celebration of freedom and progress,' the district said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
After lengthy restoration project, Rochester's Pont de Rennes bridge ‘isn't holding strong'
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — After a lengthy restoration project, the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge isn't holding strong. After walking down the bridge, News 8 noticed damage and spoke with the community about how they feel. 'When the surface of the bridge is deteriorating, people say 'Well, was this a waste of money?' and we're still trying to get answers on that,' Rochester's Kathryn D'Amanda said. Walking along the bridge, News 8 noticed nearly 40 areas with damage just like this. Now, this project went over budget at $18.7 million. 'When you do a big project like this, you hope that the public is going to have a joyful experience,' D'Amanda said. 'It was a long time coming and you don't want people being disappointed and sometimes I think that the City doesn't take… they invest a lot… but they don't in the end invest enough to make the difference that we need to have.' D'Amanda told News 8 the damage is upsetting after the time and money the City put in. The Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge restoration project included repairs to the bridge's structural steel and the addition of a new deck railing. The project started in July 2023 and the bridge reopened in December 2024. But D'Amanda said even before this damage, the City could've done better with beautification. 'They invested a lot and they did a lot of work under the bridge which is very important but they didn't take the final step in painting it which makes it look to the public as if the work wasn't done,' D'Amanda said. But a few Rochesterians, like Gary Silco, say it's a cosmetic issue, so it's not much of a bother. 'I don't feel that it's dangerous,' Silco said. 'I think it might be a hazard for people stepping on it perhaps but I don't think it's a danger to the bridge.' Ultimately, locals like D'Amanda and Silco told News 8 they love their city. 'I'm so excited to live in the city and I hope that the city will take the time and the money that it takes to invest properly,' D'Amanda said. According to a spokesperson for the City of Rochester, City employees are aware of the chipping of the non-structural concrete deck coating on the bridge. They are waiting for a report to figure out why this happened and they say the bridge surface will be redone, at no cost to the City, after they have determined the cause of the issue. In the meantime, the City says the contractor is set to do some patch work. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
