Books

Start 2009 ‘Anew’ and with No More Library Debt

Abi Zimmer |

Not amassing more library fines makes a decent resolution for 2009, but this New Year brings readers ages 7 to 18 a chance to clear unpaid fines from their library cards altogether. For the third time, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library hosts “Begin Anew,” a program allowing readers to earn $1 credit for every 15 minutes of reading completed during Tuesdays 4-5pm and Saturdays 2-4pm. The total is then taken off any previous library fines from returned Eau Claire items only. “Our aim is to increase young customers’ access to materials since fines can block them from check-out,” says Dayna Myers, youth librarian. Besides encouraging a habit of reading for pleasure, Myers hopes the program will support equal access to resources and allow students to continue to use the library for completing school assignments.