Free At Last From The Past

From 1 July, magazine and genre fiction (such as romances, mysteries, westerns and science fiction) will no longer cost 50 cents to borrow, ending a Library practice started nearly 80 years ago.

"Dunedin Public Libraries is the only metropolitan library which charges for fiction and we noticed while issues of free fiction were going up, the books with a 50 cent charge on them were going down," Library Services Manager Bernie Hawke said.

"It was causing a barrier for people."

The rental charge has earned the library between $50,000 and $60,000 a year and the loss of revenue will be covered by some $90,000 saved by Otago and Southland libraries combining to share computer costs.

The removing of the 50 cent charge will mean a shift of the Library shelving systems.

As part of the redevelopment of the ground floor, which will be completed in July, the genre fiction sections will be enlarged by free fiction and a new classic fiction area will also be added.

"About 60% of our fiction is kept 'out the back' so we hope this will allow us to showcase more of it on the shelves," Dunedin Libraries Head of Marketing Services, Liz Knowles said.

"The classic fiction section will include the prize-winning books from the past and cult fiction as well as major authors."

For those worried they will no longer be able to find their favourite books, Library staff will be on hand for the first few weeks after the change to assist. A new Help Desk will also be installed nearer to the entrance.

It is also hoped that the lifting of the rental charge will increase the use of the self-checking machines.

"Many people seemed to think they had to pay the rental charge at the same time they checked their books out so would go to the Issues Desk instead of one of the machines," Dunedin Public Libraries Head of Customer Services Mike Collett said.

"With the charge gone, it should make taking books out a lot easier for people."

Charges will remain for Hot Picks magazines, books and DVDs, rentals from the CD and DVD collections, extended loans and hold charges, photocopying and use of the internet.

Contact details

Contact Library Services Manager Bernie Hawke on 474 3657.

Last reviewed: 27 Jun 2009 6:00am