Fine Free

Fine Free

The Allen County Public Library has officially eliminated overdue penalties for all cardholders.  Endorsed by the Library’s Board of Trustees during their December 15 session, ACPL will wipe out all accumulated overdue charges from patron records starting January 3, 2026. Additionally, patrons will cease incurring penalties for delayed returns. 

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Account holders remain accountable for costs tied to misplaced or harmed library resources. 

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This initiative builds upon ACPL’s Fine Free for Minors program launched January 3, 2026, which sparked remarkable growth among young borrowers. Within its inaugural period, youth aged 17 and below saw a 151% surge in material checkouts, reaching nearly 199,000 items—a 181% rise compared to previous years. 

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No immediate steps required from cardholders to remove outstanding overdue penalties; these will automatically vanish from accounts beginning January 3.  Charges for lost/damaged items persist as usual.

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For additional details regarding the library’s fine-free transition, contact (260) 421-1200 or access the nearest ACPL location via our website.