Tulare County library patrons who donate will have $1.00 of what they owe for overdue fines, expired holds or card replacements forgiven for each item. There is no limit to the amount of fine reduction, but it cannot be used to pay for lost or damaged items or processing fees.
Non-perishable food items and bottled water are being accepted, and any library staff member can accept the donations. All items will be given to Foodlink for Tulare County at the end of November. The food and water will be picked up by Foodlink and used to restock the pantries of food banks throughout the county. Items collected from the fifteen branches will be distributed in each branch's local community and surrounding areas.
"Food for Fines" is held semi-annually in the months of November and April. Library patrons can bring their books and donations November 1-29 to any of the following library branches: Alpaugh, Dinuba, Earlimart, Exeter, Ivanhoe, Lindsay, Orosi, Pixley, Springville, Terra Bella, Three Rivers, Tipton, Visalia and Woodlake. Non-perishable food items and bottled water will be gratefully accepted from anyone wishing to donate them, whether a fine is due or not. Last April, the library collected over 3600 pounds of food and forgave fines or collected cash donations of more than $4600.
