Fines abolished at Moray's libraries

Library fines have been completely abolished in Moray in a bid to make more people use the service.

Charges were temporarily suspended back in August – and that move was made permanent today by Moray Council's corporate committee.

The Scottish Libraries Information Council has previously recommended that all penalties should be done away with by 2025.

Moray is the 20th out of Scotland's 32 councils to follow that advice.

Jérémie Fernandes (Elgin North, SNP), who's a qualified librarian, proposed a motion at the end of last year to temporarily suspend charges.

Speaking after today's meeting, he said: "Libraries should be a welcoming environment. They are an essential service for many where people can access culture, literature, and information for free at the point of need.

"Library fines are unfair because they impact disproportionately on lower-income families.

"During a cost-of-living crisis, when many people can’t afford to eat or heat their homes, it is not the job of libraries to penalise low-income patrons and charge them for returning their books a few days late.

"People will now be able to borrow items without worrying about fines.

"I am sure this decision will encourage people to join and use their libraries."

Bridget Mustard, who chairs the corporate committee, labelled the decision as "positive".

Cllr Mustard (Heldon and Lainch, Conservative) said: "We don't want to put people off using our libraries.

"If large numbers of books start going out without ever coming back again, then we may have to review things.

"However, the evidence from where fines have already been abolished suggests this won't happen.

"Removing library fees is a change that we can make which will help families with the cost of living."