New York Public Library ends all late fees, allowing thousands to check out books in push for equality (original) (raw)

The New York Public Library system announced it would no longer charge late fees on overdue books and other resources and will waive existing fines in a move that will allow hundreds of thousands of people who had their library cards blocked to again check out reading materials.

The move from the nation’s largest public library system, which took effect Tuesday, is part of an effort to ensure that “knowledge and opportunity is accessible to all,” said Tony Marx, president of the New York Public Library. Before the announcement, about 400,000 New Yorkers’ library cards were blocked because they owed at least $15 in fines — and more than half of those people live in high-needs communities, officials said.