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Fine and fees

Ashland Public Library members are responsible for all borrowed materials, including fines/fees incurred for overdue, lost, or damaged items. Parents/guardians are responsible for materials charged out on the cards of minor members aged 0 – 17. Members are responsible for the replacement costs of lost or damaged items, including missing parts.

Loan Periods

Books, magazines, audio books, Wonderbooks, music CDs, DVDs, Binge Boxes, games, Launchpads and toys — 14 Days
Quick Picks — 7 days

Fines

Ashland Public Library is now Fine Free! Library materials checked out at Ashland Public Library will not be charged late fines (other charges may still apply). 

Fine Free FAQs

  • Does this apply to all physical items checked out at Ashland Public Library? – Yes, all items checked out at the Ashland Public Library are fine free, unless specified otherwise by the owning library.
  • What about current fines on my library card? – Starting January 1, 2022 all library card holders will no longer accrue fines on their accounts, however older fines may be still left over from a prior date of January 1, 2022. Fines may still apply for items checked out at other SEO (Serving Every Ohioan) Consortium Libraries.

  • How will the Library make money without fines? – Currently only 0.123% of Ashland Public Library’s annual revenue is generated by fines. This amount was already greatly reduced in 2018 with the implementation of automatic renewals. Going fine-free will not affect any of the programs or services the library provides to its patrons.

  • If there are not fines, how will the library ensure that library materials are returned? – Fines for missing pieces, damaged, or unreturned items will still be charged. Library patrons will be charged full price for the item if not returned within 45 days of the due date. In these instances, a patron’s borrowing privileges will be suspended until their account balance is under the fine threshold of $5.

Lost Item Fees

If items are overdue 45 days, they become assumed lost and your account will be automatically billed the full cost of the item(s). Once each item(s) is returned the cost of the item(s) will be removed and no fines will be charged.

Please return the items at any of our drop locations:

  • In the outdoor book-drop to the left the main entrance on the south side of library
  • In the drive up book-drop located in the library parking lot across from Heyl Funeral Home
  • Inside the main entrance
  • At the Ashland Buehler’s location in the Scenic Ridge Coffee Shop
  • On the Bookmobile; schedules are posted on the website Events Calendar

Renew Materials

  • Up to 4x renewals unless the item is on hold for another member
  • NO Renewals on Bingeboxes, Games, Launchpads, Toys, or Quick Picks

AS A COURTESY, an overdue notice will be sent at 7 days and a final notice at 21 days. By providing the circulation department with a valid email address and/or cell phone number, members will receive overdue notices via email and/or text, as well as a courtesy reminder 3 days in advance of item due dates. Please add publicservices@ashland.lib.oh.us to your safe senders list. Texts will be sent from 76000.

Related Information

The Ashland Public Library only accepts cash, money orders, or checks. We cannot process credit or debit cards.

A fee of $25.00 is assessed for each dishonored check the bank returns to the library. This fee along with the original amount of the check must then be paid by cash or money order. Furthermore, the member must also pay all transactions for the next twelve months by cash or money order.

Total charges $5.00 (as of 8/1/08) or more on a member’s card suspends borrowing privileges.