You can leave your wallet in your pocket the next time you return an overdue book at the Kewaunee or Algoma public libraries. Beginning on June 10th, overdue fines will no longer accrue on adult print materials checked from the two libraries. The decision comes three years after the two libraries went fine-free on children and teen print materials. The practice is becoming more common across the country after the American Library Association showed evidence that eliminating fines increased library card sign-up and library use while return rates remained the same. Kewaunee Public Library Director Carol Petrina says not only are they seeing more families come in, but she can sense the relief families have when they do not have to worry about returning the books on time.

Petrina says the fines collected from overdue books often went to their programming needs, but it was not a consistent or substantial amount to count on annually. While Kewaunee County libraries have gone free, neighboring library systems that residents may rely on or have not followed suit. The Door County Library assesses a fee of 15 cents per day on most late materials to a maximum of $5. Brown County has gone fine-free for children’s print materials, but adult print materials range from 10 cents to 25 cents per day. For all of the libraries, you are in charge of replacing the item if it goes missing.