NO MORE FINES FOR OVERDUE BOOKS: Central West Libraries has abolished the fining system for overdue books, after discovering people with fines usually do not return to the library to borrow books. “We want to encourage the community to use the library rather than discourage them,” said Central West Libraries Reading and Writing Coordinator, Jasmine Vidler.
“We are asking library members with concerns about fines to visit the library or contact us on 6344 1917 to check their library account. Library users can return to using the Library without having to worry about their overdue fines.”
A financial penalty will stay in place for borrowers who lose, damage or keep library materials, in order to recoup the cost of the items. Once paid, they will be able to borrow books again.
“Going forward, borrowers with overdue books will not be able to borrow again until they return their overdue items,” Ms Vidler said.
“So there’s an incentive to do the right thing and return materials by their due date, for others to enjoy.”
There are 40,000 library members in the region. Of these, 8,510 borrowers who have overdue fines haven’t used the library in more than 12 months.
The potential lost income from waiving the overdue fees was estimated to be $5,200 a year.
ANOTHER DINE & DISCOVER EXTENSION: When the State Government initially rolled out the Dine & Discover initiative in March, the COVID-19 situation was rather different than it is now.
The scheme offers residents four $25 vouchers to use at restaurants and entertainment venues throughout the state. In the third deadline extension, they are now valid until Thursday June 30, 2022.
First, at the beginning of June, the State Government announced that it was extending the program until the end of July to give people even more time to use their vouchers. Then, at the end of June once the Greater Sydney lockdown had started, it moved that date again until the end of August.
The latest change to June 2022, which was announced on Friday, August 13, means that Dine & Discover has now been extended for a full year past its original finish date. Clearly, the hope is that folks in NSW will have plenty of time to go out and use their vouchers once the current outbreak is under control, lockdown ends and most people are vaccinated.
