Elimination of Overdue Charges on Children’s & Teen Books – January 2026 

Commitment to literacy, equity, and reducing barriers

Beginning January 2, 2026, Milton Public Library (MPL) will eliminate overdue fines on Children’s and Teen book and audio-visual materials.. We’re also taking an additional step: all existing overdue fines on these materials will be cleared.

MPL staff will be working throughout January to remove these overdue amounts from accounts. No action is required.

This change reflects our commitment to making library services more accessible and encouraging young readers to borrow freely, read widely, and return items when they can—without worrying about late fees.

What you need to know

Starting January 2, 2026:

  • No overdue fines will be charged on Children’s and Teen book and audio-visual materials.

  • Existing overdue fines on these materials will be cleared throughout January.

Please note:

  • Replacement costs and processing fees for lost items will remain. Items not returned within 56 days are automatically billed for the replacement cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Starting January 2026, Milton Public Library will eliminate overdue fines on Children’s and Teen book and audio-visual materials. In addition, all existing overdue fines on these materials will be cleared. 

Yes. Staff will be working throughout January 2026 to purge all overdue amounts associated with Children’s and Teen book and audio-visual materials from customer accounts. No action is required. 

Yes. While overdue fines for Children’s and Teen book and audio-visual materials will be removed, other fees remain: 

    • Replacement costs and processing fees for lost items
    • Fees for non-pickup of holds
    • Overdue charges for Adult materials, Video Games, and Library of Things items

If you have charges for lost items, replacement costs, or processing fees, MPL encourages you to settle them before January to ensure a completely fresh start. 

You can view your account and any associated charges by: 

Removing these fees supports: 

  • Greater accessibility for families
  • Encouragement of early literacy and lifelong learning
  • A more equitable library experience for young readers

Yes. Although overdue fines are being removed, returning materials on time ensures they remain available for the entire community. Items not returned within 56 days are automatically billed to your account for the replacement cost and processing fee, which will also place a block on your account. To avoid service disruptions, it is important to continue returning materials promptly. 

This change applies to Children’s and Teen book and audio-visual materials. Other formats such as Video Games or Library of Things items will continue to follow existing fee structures. 

For questions or assistance, please visit www.beinspired.ca, use Chat with a Librarian, or speak with staff at any MPL branch.