Deux-Montagnes, June 21, 2022 – In order to promote childhood reading and the acquisition of literacy skills, the City of Deux-Montagnes is permanently eliminating overdue fines on materials borrowed with a child suscriber card, as well as the abolition of penalties on unclaimed reservations.

With this decision, the City joins the international Fine Free Library Movement, which ABPQ (Association des bibliothèques publiques du Québec) strongly supports. Thereby, children’s books borrowed with a child Subscriber Card will no longer be subject to fines if they are returned late. In addition, all customers will be exempted from penalties when their reservations or interlibrary loans are not claimed.

For Mayor Denis Martin,“this is a well-received decision to promote and simplify access to information and culture. For families, we just removed a barrier to the use of library services and its numerous youth collections.”

To encourage the return of documents
Despite the abolition of overdue fines for young people 13 years and under, measures are being taken to encourage citizens to return their loans. The procedure already established for all users remains the same; notices are sent to the subscriber after 7, 14 and 42 days of delay. On the 70th day, the document is considered lost and an invoice is sent.

Also, the subscriber’s file will now be suspended 21 days after the loan expires. New books cannot be borrowed until late ones are returned or renewed. This new measure aims to encourage the return of documents.