DOWAGIAC — Renting out a book from the library can be simple, but sometimes bringing it back can be more of a challenge.

That is why the Dowagiac District Library created the Read Away Your Fines program for children and teens who are 18 years old or younger and in school. The program aligns with the library’s commitment to reduce barriers of information and services offered to children in the community.

The process is simple, said Melissa Phillips, youth services coordinator. Phillips facilitates the Read Away Your Fines program. Any child with fines can visit the Dowagiac District Library, check in with the library staff, grab a book and find a place anywhere in the library to sit and read.

Per the current Dowagiac District Library rules, anyone with fines of $5 or more cannot check out a book or log into the library computers.

“It’s to create responsibility,” Phillips said. “You got everything for free. You’re the one who brought it back late or damaged it. But, as a library, you also don’t want to deny access to people.”

Phillips said the program, which has been in effect since January, came from the idea of another library, which had been doing it in conjunction with a Food for Fines Program. The Dowagiac District Library also hosts a Food for Fines program, which takes place from Thanksgiving to the Christmas season, but the library staff decided to keep the Read Away Your Fines program all year round.

“We decided we don’t want to limit it to one month. We want it to be ongoing,” Phillips said. “I’ve only had two children do the program, and they sat here and read.”

Phillips has one particular boy who often forgets to return his books back to the library. Recently, the boy sat and read for two hours, and by the end of the reading session, had brought his fine down to $4.

There are several other precautions the library takes in order to ensure the program is accurate and teens remain responsible.

“We have to be able to see them,” Phillips said. “They have to log in — we have a login sheet saying this is what I’m reading. For every 15 minutes they read, we deduct a dollar.”

Ultimately, Phillips said the library wants teens to have access to their library cards and services, including computers.

“Read Away Your Fines is a great and easy way to watch your fines shrink off of your card,” she said.

Since the program’s inception, Phillips has noticed few teens using the program. She wants to remind those who are already participating in the “A Universe of Stories” summer reading program that also doing the Read Away Your Fines program can keep  summer reading in check.