Books News

Dallas Library adopts new policy with no fines for late returns

Dallas Public Library in downtown.

Courtesy photo

No more late fees at the library. The Dallas City Council voted on May 22 to eliminate the long-standing practice of issuing a fine when an item is returned late. Fees for replacing lost library cards and looking up account numbers were also eliminated.

Jo Giudice, director of libraries sought the change to bring back customers who have not been able to access library services because of excessive fines. “The library’s mission is to provide access for all,” said Giudice. “Late fines create barriers by punishing people who are unable to pay them. Eliminating fines is a step towards equity.”

Beginning immediately, late fines will no longer be assessed. The library is working with its vendor to zero-out existing balances, a process likely to take several weeks. In the meantime, card holders visiting the library can request to have their accounts cleared of fines for returned materials.

“I know there are people out there holding on to material because they know it’s long overdue,” said Giudice. “We want the customers and the books to come back. All is forgiven.”

Under the fine-free rules, when an item is a week overdue, the account will be blocked from further checkouts until the overdue items are returned. The replacement cost of the book plus a processing fee will be charged to the account. These charges will be waived as soon as the book is returned.

For customers who have lost items on their accounts and cannot pay the replacement cost, special events twice a year will give them an opportunity to “work off” the fees by volunteering or participating in other community activities.

Dallas is joining a movement among libraries nationwide to eliminate charging fines, including Denver Public Library, San Diego Public Library and Salt Lake City Public Library. Library systems in nearby cities, including Irving and Plano, also have no-fine policies.

A library card is free for any Dallas resident. For information on the many free programs and services available at Dallas Public Library, visit www.dallaslibrary.org

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Top Texas schools

2 Dallas universities rank among top 10 in Texas for 2024 by U.S. News

SMU Facebook

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Two Dallas universities have achieved high rankings for their high-quality educational experiences this year: Southern Methodist University and The University of Texas at Dallas both have earned top-10 spots on U.S. News and World Report's just-released list of the Best Colleges in Texas for 2024.

SMU claimed the No. 4 spot in Texas, and ranked No. 89 nationally. The private institution had an undergraduate enrollment of more than 7,000 students in fall 2022. The school, which costs $64,460 in tuition and fees each year, ranks No. 121 for "Best Value Schools" by U.S. News.

In April, SMU's Cox School of Business ranked No. 4 in U.S. News' ranking of the best graduate programs in Texas. SMU business graduates additionally make the third-highest earnings in the nation within the four years after their graduation.

SMU actually fared one spot better in U.S. News' list of top Texas schools than it did in another recent report, in which it ranked No. 5 statewide.

U.S. News' profile of SMU says the university finds pride in its rich campus culture that encourages students to participate in different organizations and activities.

"Students can check out the Dallas International Film Festival, which draws 40,000 viewers annually, or explore the more than 400 parks in the city," the site says. "About 2,000 students are involved in SMU Greek life, and all students can participate in annual events such as the Festival of Lights, a candlelit assembly on the school’s Main Quad each December, and the Mane Event, a celebration of spring complete with bands and food."

SMU's cross-Metroplex rival, Texas Christian University, ranked No. 6 in Texas and No. 98 nationally.

Just behind TCU, Richardson's UTD placed No. 7 in the Texas rankings, and No. 115 nationally. With a total undergraduate enrollment of over 21,600 students in fall 2022, the university values itself as a top-tier research institution.

"The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship utilizes world-class, academic education, industry-leading experiential training, venture mentorship and advisory support to support the launch of new businesses," the UT Dallas website says.

In fact, the U.S. Department of Defense recently announced it will work alongside UT Dallas to develop a $30 million energy storage systems campus in a new initiative to improve battery technology.

"The project will accelerate transition and scaling of next generation batteries, while reducing dependence on scarce critical materials," the release said.

UTD ranked No. 14 in the recent Niche list of best Texas colleges.

U.S. News' top 10 best colleges in Texas in 2024 are:

No. 1 – Rice University, Houston
No. 2 – University of Texas at Austin
No. 3 – Texas A&M University, College Station
No. 4 – Southern Methodist University, Dallas
No. 5 – Baylor University, Waco
No. 6 – Texas Christian University, Fort Worth
No. 7 – The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson
No. 8 – University of Houston
No. 9 – Texas Tech University, Lubbock
No. 10 – University of St. Thomas, Houston

The full rankings can be found on usnews.com.

US News & World Report reports universities rankings colleges dallas SMU Southern Methodist University ut dallas richardson