The city of Santa Barbara is proposing to eliminate daily overdue library fines. 

Officials said the fines — 25 cents per day, up to $8 — for overdue materials is a barrier for economically disadvantaged people.

“The punitive daily overdue fee really just suspends people and dissuades people from ever even getting a library card in the first place,” said library director Jessica Cadiente at budget hearing on Monday. “We want to reduce the inequitable impact of overdue fines.

“Essentially, if you have the disposable income to pay your fines, you do, but if you are choosing between rent or food, you are going to pay those before paying your fines.”

The library, which has a $6.52 million budget, still plans to charge for items not returned for more than 30 days; they will be considered lost and patrons will be billed the full cost of the items.

Officials hope that removing the daily overdue fees will help increase the number of young people with library cards. The library is looking to partner with the Santa Barbara Unified School District to allow students to receive a library card when they enroll in school.

Only 5,000 kids between the ages of 5 to 18 have library cards, yet the district has about 15,000 students.

“I truly appreciate the library’s commitment to equity and access, and it is something that is so important to me,” said Councilwoman Meagan Harmon. 

The library hosts 10 weekly storytimes with 1,300 attendees monthly, which is about triple the number of attendess in 2017.

Officials next fiscal year also plan to contract with a private security firm to patrol the library and deal with difficult or problematic people. 

“Having someone stationed or positioned in the library is what we really need,” Cadiente said. 

There’s been a 40-percent increase in the number of threatening incidents since 2016. In 2018, the library suspended 100 people for one month or longer. 

Cadiente suspects they are homeless or transient people, but she isn’t sure.

“We really don’t ask for housing status when they are threatening at the library,” Cadiente said. 

City Administrator Paul Casey said the problem needs to be addressed.

“Staff is dealing with a constrained environment and tough clientele, and sometimes . . .  when they come back it’s a confrontational experience, and I think it’s time to try something new,” Casey said. 

Councilwoman Kristen Sneddon said she appreciates the library’s transformation in recent years, and that it strikes a balance between modern and classic. She appreciates the removal of overdue daily fines, recalling a Clifford book that one of her children forgot to turn in and she had to pay a fine. 

“I really commend you for making it a place that is still relevant and a place where people want to go,” Sneddon said.

She also backs the increased security. 

“I really support whatever we need to do to have those libraries be safe places for everyone,” Sneddon said. “Especially, and including staff, children, the elderly, it needs to be a haven where anyone can go at any time.”

The council will not take formal action regarding the library budget until late June.

— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.