Libraries allow credit card use to pay fines

Patrons of certain California libraries will soon have the ability to pay late fees with their credit card, in an expansion of a pilot program started a few months ago in select locations. Libraries in the Stockton and San Joaquin County regions will all begin taking credit cards as a form of payment starting September 1st. Certain libraries had been accepting credit cards since July, and the results were promising enough for library officials to expand the program to all locations.

Library officials stated that in the preliminary run of accepting credit cards, libraries that allowed this form of payment enjoyed comparatively more late fees collected than before. They attributed the increased collection rates to the convenience of credit cards. While they noted that the libraries could make good use of the additional revenue they were collecting, this was not the primary reason for allowing credit cards as a form of payment. In fact, this decision was made in order to ensure that patrons paid their fees and returned their materials on time.

After credit cards will be accepted at the California area libraries on September 1st, they are attempting to make sure that all library patrons return overdue materials and pay off their fines within thirty days, in an effort to make sure that patrons can enjoy all of the resources the libraries can potentially offer. Patrons that have not paid off their fines after this time will face suspension of their borrowing privileges.

This development is part of a growing nationwide trend, where libraries from Minnesota to Buffalo, New York have been installing credit card readers in order to give patrons a convenient option for paying fines.

-Seth Berger