Committee votes to cut library fines

Library fines may be a thing of the past soon in Clovis.

The city’s Revenue Review Committee Wednesday voted 5 to 1 to do away with library fines at the Clovis-Carver Public Library. The committee then voted unanimously to set a fee of $2 for city notary service, according to committee chair District 1 commissioner George Jones.

Jones said the measures now go before city commission for final approval.

The Revenue Review Committee meets every even year, according to city library director Margaret Hinchee

“They review any proposed changes in any of the revenues brought in by any department,” Hinchee said.

Hinchee proposed the Clovis-Carver Library go fine-free, eliminating fines in the library.

“My reasoning for going fine-free is studies show the trend is for libraries to allow patrons to finish their books then bring them in,” Hinchee said.

The idea for charging a $2 fee for city notary services came as a way to make up revenue lost by dropping the library fines, Hinchee said.