CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY

Chicago Public Library Offers “Blue Moon” Fine Amnesty Program

Students Can Start the School Year with a Clean Slate

For the first time in 20 years, the Chicago Public Library is offering a fine amnesty program to encourage all patrons to return overdue materials and not allow fines to discourage students from taking advantage of the full resources offered at the library.

“This program will allow parents and children the chance to start the school year with a clean record and enable them to check out materials that will help with their studies and classes,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Regardless of the reason for not returning an item, students with overdue materials can start fresh and take advantage of the Library and its extensive resources for their studies.”

Coinciding with the astronomical phenomenon taking place on August 31, the Library is naming the program the “Once in a Blue Moon Amnesty,” reinforcing the fact that it is not a regular occurrence.

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Mayor Emanuel To Re-Open Libraries On Monday Mornings Year Round

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Library Commissioner Brian Bannon announced that the Chicago Public Library is adopting a flexible staffing plan that will allow all 76 neighborhood branches to offer full-day service on Mondays after children return to school in the fall without increasing the operating budget.

“By taking a new and creative approach to staff libraries, not only will young children, parents and adults be able to take advantage of services and resources that our community libraries offer for 8 hours on Mondays, we have an opportunity to broaden the array of services we offer,” said Mayor Emanuel. “We are not only re-establishing Monday morning hours during the school year, we are honoring the promise that the Library offers to the children and adults who depend on it.”

Click here to read the full press release.