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JCL Continues Food for Fines Amnesty Days in 2010 Jefferson County Library continues to offer its popular monthly "Food for Fines" amnesty on the final Friday of each month during 2010. The next amnesty date is Friday, September 24. The amnesty now runs all day, from 9:00 a.m. when the library opens until the library closes at 6:00 PM. Customers with outstanding fines for overdue materials may have their fines erased by donating canned food items. One important change in the program in 2010: the library will forgive up to one dollar in fines for each can of food donated. On August 27, the library collected 598 canned food items and waived $483 in fines. For the first eight months of 2010, the library has collected 5,672 canned food items and waived $5,121 in fines. There is no limit on the number or amount of fines that can be cleared, but bills for lost or damaged library items are not eligible for the "Food for Fines" program. Items that have been borrowed from another library outside the Jefferson County Library district are also not included in the fine amnesty. When a customer asks JCL to borrow an item for him from another library, and then keeps that item out overdue, or damages or loses the item, the library that owns the item charges the fine or fee, and JCL has to collect the money and send it to the owning library. If the customer doesn't pay, JCL has to cover that cost. The library does not accept home-canned items, cans that are past their expiration date or are dented or damaged, or cans with bar codes that have been lined or scratched through. All food collected is donated to local food pantries. For more information contact your local branch of the Jefferson County Library: Arnold Branch, Northwest Branch, Windsor Branch, |
