For Immediate Release: December 7, 2007

Final Week to Clear Library Fines and Fees
- Successful Program Ends December 14 -

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(Oakland, CA)— The Oakland Public Library’s Fines and Lost Books Forgiveness campaign is winding down for its final week. The one-time only amnesty will conclude on Friday, December 14, 2007. Until that time, individuals with overdue fines and lost book fees can “get a fresh start” by coming to any Oakland Public Library and asking for “forgiveness.” The library will clear their fines and fees, and welcome them back to using the library’s many resources and services.

The Oakland Public Library is especially targeting youth and families, as public libraries are a critical key to helping children of all income levels succeed in school. The library wants to give people a special holiday break, but will be educating them about the importance of caring for and returning library materials on time. In its first six days, the library had cleared over 20,000 charges, exceeding the pace of a previous amnesty held five years ago.

One of the people who asked for forgiveness was a correspondent who is now serving time in prison. The correspondent asked to have his fines waived because he is trying to turn his life around, and wanted to be able to use the resources of the Oakland Public Library to help him accomplish his goal when he is released from jail. In this case, the library went ahead and cleared his fines because he could not physically return to the library.

For more information about the special Forgiveness campaign, please call (510) 238-3134, or visit the library’s Web site at www.oaklandlibrary.org. The Oakland Public Library is a department of the City of Oakland.

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