Milan Public Library will go fine-free starting Aug. 1, leaving Dexter District Library as the only public library in Washtenaw County that still charges them.
The change follows a June discussion by the Milan Library Board about making the library more accessible. Less than 1% of the library’s $533,487.59 budget comes from fines.
“The fines do generate a small amount of revenue,” said Milan Public Library Director Susan Wess, “but the bad thing about fines is they keep people from coming back in, especially if they have a large family and their fines have run up into $50 to $60. Especially with the economy the way it is, people can’t afford it.”…