Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Boulder City Library:

Library collects food instead of fines to help needy

Food for Fines

Heather Cory

A sign announcing the library’s holiday program Food for Fines hangs at the building’s entrance. Food for Fines accepts can goods in lieu of accumulated fines.

Click to enlarge photo

The Boulder City Library collects food in lieu of monetary payments as part of its Food for Fines program.

The Boulder City Library collected more than 50 pounds of food for Emergency Aid of Boulder City during December as part of its Food for Fines program.

"We know there had been a couple articles in the paper about the fact that (Emergency Aid) was falling short, and they were having more and more people apply for assistance," Boulder City Library Director Lynn Schofield-Dahl said. "We thought this would be a nice way we could help out and give back to the community."

Under the program, a patron could pay off one overdue book with one can or non-perishable food item, up to $5 worth of fines. The library did not keep statistics on how many patrons used the program, or how many books were returned, Schofield-Dahl said.

She also did not forecast the library would lose much revenue through the project, because fines paid in December are typically down about 5 percent from other months — and they came in at roughly the same pace this year.

Schofield-Dahl said she had been involved in similar programs at other libraries. It helps both the library and the food pantries, she said.

"It gives people an opportunity to pay off fines in a different way other than their pocketbooks," she said. "It's another good way to show your involved in the community."

The library will participate in another upcoming community service project Jan. 31, when it will partner with the Boulder City Rotary to collect old computer equipment to the Blind Center of Nevada, which will recycle the parts. The library, 701 Adams Blvd., will serve as a drop-off site 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or [email protected].

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