On July 1, if you're late getting back a book to any of the libraries in the Middle Georgia Regional Library system, you'll pay double what you used to.
Right now, late fines are $0.10 per day per book, but they're going to rise to $0.20. The library said the economy has played a big factor in needing to ink the increase.
But Thomas Jones does point out late fines are just a small fraction of the money it takes to run a public book lender. In fact, the fines make up less than one percent of the total library operating budget -- between $50,000 and $70,000 per year, according to Jones.
"When you consider the cost of an average book is $25, and you get to read it for next to nothing -- for free when you return it on time, it's a very good deal," said Jones. "We're not in the penalty business."
Library user Steven Ray has been using the library for 7 years, and he doesn't see a reason people should worry about the increased fees.
"I renew online," Ray said. "It's really easy to renew you book online if you think you'll be late on it."