This year’s library amnesty period started this past weekend March 18 and will end on the first of April.
This means that all overdue books to the City of Joburg libraries can be returned and no fines will be issued.
The fine-free period coincides with the National Library Week and during this period, library card holders who have overdue books are urged to return them without having to pay.
“As a city, we hope that all lost copies will be recovered during the ‘Fine- Free’ period and that available funds can be used to buy new books.
“This will also afford patrons the opportunity to use our libraries again without feeling any guilty or embarrassed,” said Nonhlanhla Sifumba, MMC for Community Development.
The amnesty period is aimed at promoting library usage and increase the recovery of books.
The culture of reading is also promoted during this period as patrons will be able to borrow books immediately after returning overdue ones.