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CHICAGO – As a means of reducing barriers to library access, public libraries are increasingly eliminating overdue fines and fees. So, why do some patrons still fail to return borrowed materials?

In Fall 2016, more than 10,000 people in the City of Milwaukee, WI, had their overdue fines forgiven and their library privileges restored. However, within 90 days, 8% of those individuals had once again incurred fines or fees.

The Milwaukee (WI) Public Library and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies investigated the reasons behind these circumstances, and next month, the Public Library Association (PLA) will host a webinar in which members of the research team will discuss this study and their findings.

This webinar, , will be held 1-2 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, July 11. The cost is $43 for PLA personal members, $59 for nonmembers, and $129 for groups.* At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to identify data points to study local trends in unreturned materials, identify barriers to use of their libraries, and understand the use of this data in making policy decisions.

to learn more and register.

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About the Public Library Association

The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 10,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext.5PLA, or pla@ala.org.

*A group is defined as two or more people gathered at a single access point to participate in the live webinar broadcast.

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