If you have a pending fine at the Farmer City Library, you have a chance to get off the hook.
The library is offering to wipe away $1 in fines for each non-perishable food item donated by the offender. So, for example, if you have $3 in fines, they will be forgiven if you bring in three non-perishable food items.
The food will be donated to the Sunshine Center, a Farmer City outreach operation that includes a food pantry.
Librarian Amy Johnson said she borrowed the idea from the Oakwood Public Library. Through others, Johnson received a link to the other program and “I liked the idea.
“When I took this position at the beginning of the year, I noticed we had some fines to deal with.”
She considered other options — many libraries across the country in the past have used April as a “fine forgiveness month” — but eventually chose the Food for Fines project.
“I decided this is an even better way to get people back into the library and also to give back to the community,” Johnson said.
The program will be in effect the entire month of April.
“I’m hoping we’ll see positive feedback from it, and if not I think we’ll try it again next year,” she said.