By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



For the month of September, there is practically no such thing as late fees for certain Jefferson County libraries.

The public libraries in Warrior, Fultondale and Gardendale are all taking part in a campaign called Food for Fines.

During the campaign, library patrons who have outstanding fines for overdue library books or other media can donate food items instead. The expiration date on the food must be visible.

The libraries will waive $1 in fines for each food item donated, up to $10 for each library card holder.

They will then send the food where it is needed most — to area food banks.

The Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC) is sponsoring Food for Fines. The libraries in Warrior, Fultondale and Gardendale are all a part of the JCLC, which includes 39 libraries.

Suzanne Burdette, a librarian at the Fultondale Public Library, said a few people are already taking advantage of the campaign to clear their library debts.

Burdette said Food for Fines is only applied to overdue materials that have been returned. It does not count toward replacement fees for lost materials.

“We’re hoping this food drive has people bringing in overdue materials that are out there,” said Burdette. “This is a great opportunity for our food pantries to have a way to get donations before the colder months set in. We’re very, very proud to be a part of it.”

Burdette said the Fultondale library would take the donations at the end of the month and give them to church food pantries in Fultondale.

The Gardendale Public Library is also keeping food donations local.

Lisa Keith, who runs the adult services department at the Gardendale library, said all food donations to that library will go to the Caring Center.

She said the Caring (Christians Actively Reaching Individuals Needing God) Center is a North Jefferson Baptist Association church and community ministry located in Gardendale.

“The people who have brought donations in so far are really pleased they can do that,” said Keith. “It helps them out and it helps us out with a cause. It’s going along very well.”

The Warrior Public Library is also keeping its food donations local.

Faye Pugh, director of the Warrior Public Library, said all donations made to her library will go to the food bank at WaterStone Baptist Church in Warrior, formerly Warrior First Baptist Church.

“I think this is something good that the whole county does,” said Pugh.

Fultondale’s library is using the Food for Fines campaign to kick off a longer-term material recovery program beginning in October.

“We’re trying to get back the materials that have been loaned out to patrons,” said Burdette. “Anytime we get a new book in, we pay the same price that people pay if they go to Books-A-Million. We don’t get discounts.”

She said that most libraries would much rather have their books, movies and tapes back than to have the money that people pay in fines.

“We want the materials back so that other people can check them out,” she said.

Burdette also said that September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, meaning that people can replace lost library cards for free. It normally costs $3 for a replacement card, she said.