Amnesty Time

La Vista Public Library’s
Amnesty Time (November 17-26)
How it works:
It's simple! All you have to do is come to the library with your overdue library materials and turn in one non-perishable food item per overdue item in order for the overdue fee to be forgiven. For the return of the materials and a can of peas, any pre-existing overdue fees or fees charged to you on the returned item will be forgiven, and your library privileges will be reinstated.

Frequently asked Questions:

1. What is a previously or pre-existing overdue fee?
A fee that has already been charged to a patron's record for materials returned past the due date.

2. What is an overdue?
Items that are in lost status and are being returned, or that are being returned past the due date during amnesty week are considered overdue. Lost items that are not returned for will remain on the patrons' account.

3. Is there a dollar limit on the amount of pre-existing overdue fees that will be forgiven?
There is no total dollar limit.

4. If the returned item is damaged, do you forgive the fee?
If it is damaged beyond repair, then we can forgive the overdue fee and the processing fee but not the cost of the material. If it can be repaired, the overdue fee will be waived on the damaged item but the cost to repair the item ($5 processing fee) will not be waived.

5. What if I bring the book and overdue item(s) after the amnesty period?
The program officially ends at 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, 2008. There will be no grace period. After the amnesty week, we return to the normal overdue fee policy.

6. What does reinstatement of library privileges mean?
The patrons' blocked library card will have the block removed, allowing the patron to check out library materials.

Removed blocks will occur
1) when the patron brings in lost or overdue items and a can per item or
2) when a patron who has overdue fees on their record from previously returned material asks to have the fees removed and brings in a can of food.