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Read Down Your Fines
at the Hamilton Public Library

                                                                                  HAMILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY READ DOWN YOUR FINES  

Children and teens 19 and under can read in the Library to pay off their overdue fines.  This can be done at the Hamilton Public Library.  Once signed, children and teens will receive one dollar ‘credit’ for every 30 minutes spent reading. The credit can be used to remove overdue fines. Reading down fines counts toward overdue Library fines cannot be applied to lost/damaged items.  
While in the Library, participants receive credit for:  
  • Reading by themselves  
  • Reading to/with younger children  If children are reading to each other, both earn credit   
  • Infants and pre-school children can be read to by a parent or other caregiver ​
Reading any print media (books, magazines and newspapers) earns Read Down Your Fines credit. Credit can be applied to old or current fines, but credit cannot be earned toward future fines. To participate in the program, children and teens 19 and under must register at the Library desk. Once registered, each time a participant wants to ‘read down,’ notify the desk staff so your time can be noted and monitored.  Sign in and out with staff to track time spent reading. Corresponding fees will be waived at sign-out. Get a clean slate and a fresh start. Read away your fines! 

                                                                                       FAQs: 
 Q: How do I qualify?  A: If you’re 19 years old or younger and have a Hamilton Public Library card with fines, you’re eligible! You just have to log time reading at HPL. Check with a staff member for help.   

Q: What fines will be waived? A: All overdue fees accrued on your card, as well as lost card replacement fees. We will waive overdue fees and library card replacement fees only.  If you have lost your library card and need a replacement, and you are participating in the program, let Library staff know—it will be replaced without a fee.   

Q: If I don’t have fines on my account, or I already paid the fines, can I get cash or credit for reading at the Library? A: No. The Read Down Your Fines program waives outstanding fees only. No reimbursement of past fines or credit towards possible future fines will be provided.  

Q: How much time do I need to spend reading? A: The program is based on 15-minute reading intervals.  Lesser time cannot be credited.  Fines do not need to be ‘read down’ in a single interval. Larger fines can be ‘read down’ over several weeks or months.  

Q: Do I have to read to receive credit, or can I watch a movie, listen to music or surf the web at the Library?  A: Only print reading material qualifies for credit, but that means more than just books—you can also read graphic novels or comic books, magazines or newspapers. Listening to a book (a friend or caregiver reading to you) also counts. Watching movies, even if based on a book, or listening to music do not count. Let our Library staff know if you need help finding something to read.   
​

Q: Can I read to reduce fines accrued on another person’s account?  A: A parent or caregiver may read to a child, thereby reducing the fees on the child’s account (not the parent’s). Otherwise, no, you must read away the fees on your own account and cannot reduce the fines of other cardholders.  

​
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  • Home
  • Illinois Readers Choice
  • Programs & Events
    • Children & Families
    • Teens
    • Adult >
      • Spice Club
  • Digital Media
  • Online Catalog
  • Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) System
  • Illinois Veterans History Project
  • CONTACT US
  • 2020 Tax Forms
  • Administration
    • Volunteer Application
    • Job Openings
    • Job Application
  • ABOUT US
    • Mission
  • LINKS
  • FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
    • Meeting Minutes >
      • October 2019
      • September 2019
      • September 2015
      • August 2015
      • July 2015
      • June 2015
      • January 2015
      • November 2014
      • October 2014
      • June 2014
      • May 2014
      • March 2014
      • February 2014
      • December 2013
      • November 2013
      • October 2013
      • September 2013
      • August 2013
      • July 2013
      • June 2013
      • May 2013
      • April 2013
      • March 2013
      • February 2013
      • January 2013
      • November 2012
      • October 2012
      • September 2012
      • August 2012
      • July 2012
      • June 2012
      • May 2012
      • April 2012
      • March 2012
      • February 2012
      • January 11, 2012
  • Board of Trustees
  • Basic Agenda
  • Meeting Minutes
    • 2021 Meeting Minutes by Month
    • 2020 Meeting Minutes
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • March 2015
    • April 2015
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 16, 2012
    • September 19, 2011
    • August 15, 2011
    • July 18, 2011
  • Yearly Budget