We love it when you return items! Although fines are one way we encourage our customers to return materials, we've suspended all overdue fines since March 1, 2020, to account for how limited Library access has been since the coronavirus pandemic started.
Now, as part of our preparations for eventually reopening our building, the Library will begin sending billing notices on August 24 to customers with fines of $25.00 or more on their library account. Fines like this are often, though not always, for items that are so overdue they've been marked as lost, and these notices encourage customers to pay all previously unpaid fines-and, more likely, to return the "lost" items, which will eliminate any "lost items" fines from your account. (We're still not charging extra overdue fines, but we do want overdue materials to be returned or renewed as soon as possible.)
As part of this policy, any account with more than $25.00 in fines due for longer than 15 days may be referred to a collection agency that specializes in helping libraries recover overdue materials, and a nonnegotiable $10.00 charge will be added to any referred account.
However, we understand that not everything is back to normal yet. If you’re not able to return your checked out materials or pay your fines right now, please contact Shelly Witcher at shelly.witcher@highpointnc.gov or 336-883-3651 to let us know. She’ll be happy to discuss your options.
The library still doesn't have any firm reopening plans, but this is an important first step. Thank you for being such a supportive community as we move forward together!