Other options may be available for uncataloged items such as a board books and Choice Reads. Please ask staff at your library about options for replacing uncataloged items.

You will need to pay that balance down to $75 or less before you can check out physical items again.

You can also check the list below to find out if one of the scenarios apply to you.

If you have used your King County Library System library card in the last two years:
Your account is active in our system. Most active cards do not expire or need you to renew them. Checking out items or logging on to a public computer at the library helps to keep your card active.

If you have not used your card in the last two years and it had no fines or fees:
Your account is likely no longer in our system. If you would like to apply for a new card, please visit a library or apply online.

Regardless of when you last used your card:
If your account had late fines but no other charges before we cleared all late fines, it is active in our system. 

If your account still has more than $75 after we cleared fines, such as in lost or damaged item fees:
You will need to pay that balance down to $75 or less before you can check out physical items again. 

Replacement fees vary depending on the item. You will not be able to borrow physical items if you owe more than $75 in lost fees. You will need to pay that balance down to $75 or less before you can check out physical items again. 

Please make sure your contact information in your account is current so you don’t miss these alerts. 

Find out what kinds of due date alerts are available and how to manage them. 

You may get late fines for interlibrary loan items. When you borrow an interlibrary loan, you're borrowing items that we don't own. The library system that owns the materials may charge you late fines.

Presentation highlights included the following findings:

• Late fines worsen inequality and discourage library use. Individuals with low-income and limited access to transportation and technology are most impacted.
• Late fines do not generate a significant source of revenue. In recent years, fines made up less than one percent of our total operating budget.
• Totals collected continue to decrease over time. This trend correlates with patrons checking out more digital and fewer physical items. Digital titles return automatically and do not accrue late fines.
• Collecting fines from patrons also has costs. Associated expenses include staff time, payment processing fees, printing notices, and more.
• A majority of peer libraries have eliminated late fines.

Based on these findings, we submitted a proposal to eliminate late fines. On April 26, the Board of Trustees voted to approve the proposal.

We have made changes to renewal limits, borrowing privileges, and replacement charges. More accounts are now able to borrow again.  

We continue to charge replacement fees for lost, damaged, and missing items. We must charge replacement fees by state law. 

You will be charged a replacement cost for items that are 60 days overdue. 

You will not be able to borrow physical items if you owe more than $75 in lost fees. You will need to pay that balance down to $75 or less before you can check out physical items again. 

We will not send accounts to collections.