Overdue fines scrapped

From 1st October 2026, Libraries Unlimited are abolishing overdue fines and removing all existing overdue charges. This applies to all 54 libraries that we run in Devon and Torbay.  

We already scrapped late fees for children and young people in 2022, in an attempt to remove barriers to reading. With this next phase of removing charges, we hope to remove barriers to all library users. We are encouraging library users to make the most of the change, while continuing to return or renew books so that they remain available to everyone.  

Alex Kittow, Chief Executive Officer at Libraries Unlimited said: "Our hope is that removing fees brings people back into the libraries who haven't been borrowing books because of overdue fines on their account. We want people to know the slate has been wiped clean. We don't want there to be any barriers to people using the library and we hope that this will encourage people to borrow more books. We also want to remind people that books are expensive and we do need the books back so that hundreds of thousands of people across Devon and Torbay can benefit from the joy of reading for free." 

The move applies to overdue fines only. Users will still have loan periods and will be asked to return or renew items when they are due. Reservation fees and charges for lost books will remain. 

Please remember to return your library books.