Peabody library seeks food, will eliminate fines

PEABODY – Don’t have the extra cash to pay off your past-due library fees? How about a canned good or two?As part of their Food for Fines program, the Peabody Institute Library will wipe clean the slates of those hanging on to overdue books, so long as they donate a non-perishable food item. All items collected will be given to Haven From Hunger, the North Shore’s largest non-profit food pantry.”It’s the library’s way to help a struggling community during a tough time of year,” said Assistant Director Gerri Guyote.Boxes have been placed at all three branch locations in the city. Each week they are picked up and shipped off to the Haven. According to Guyote, the boxes have been turning up pretty full.The library will be forgiving fines until Friday, Dec. 28. After that, it’ll cost you five cents a day or a maximum of $2 for not returning books on time.Guyote said the program doesn’t result in any great loss for the library, as the late fees are relatively small. It’s more of an incentive to get residents to help the local agency. So far, the plan is working.