Des Plains library offers Food for Fines

Want to do a little spring cleaning of your library account? Here’s a chance to clear your overdue library fines and do a good deed for the Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines.

Through Sunday, April 17, Des Plaines Public Library patrons may bring in nonperishable foods to get money subtracted from their library fines. Each food item brought in will result in $1 of fines being cleared.

Patrons can bring in as much food as they want, but the program is applicable only to overdue fines, not charges for lost or damaged materials. Food For Fines only applies to Des Plaines Public Library items, not items checked out from other libraries.

All donated food will go to the Self-Help Closet and Food Pantry of Des Plaines. For details, visit dppl.org or call (847) 827-5551.

The Des Plaines Public Library is proud to offer this program for the second year in a row. The overdue materials fine system is in place primarily to encourage the return of materials on a timely basis so that other patrons may enjoy them.

Currently, the demand for library materials is the highest in DPPL’s history. Food for Fines makes it easy for patrons to return materials, ensuring the maximum amount of materials are available to the maximum number of library patrons.

Food For Fines also enables library patrons to easily do a good deed for area residents in need. The program gives the Self-Help Closet & Food Pantry an infusion of food and supplies at a very busy time of the year.

This program is being offered in the month of April to celebrate the American Library Association’s National Library Week. For details on this celebration, visit ala.org.