Hamilton City Council writes off $18k of overdue library book fees

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Hamilton Central Library. HCC has written-off a host of overdue book fines.

After a two-year hunt Hamilton City Council has given up trying to trace the person behind $1405 of overdue library book fines.

The unpaid library debt, dating back to May 2024, was the biggest single bill in a host of debts recently written off by the council’s Finance and Assurance Committee.

A total of $30,875 of cumulative debts for fees and charges have been written off - $18,698 of which were down to unpaid library fees.

One person racked up $1405 in overdue fees at the library (file photo).

Hamilton Libraries director Paula Murdoch says the $1405 overdue fee was not due to one single book and recovery was “attempted through several channels’’ prior to debt being written off.

Why people fail to pay overdue fees vary, Murdoch says.

“It’s not a one-size-fits all situation - late fees may happen for all sorts of reasons such as moving house, losing track of items at home, lending to other people to read, or just living a busy life. We also know that, for some people, even modest fines can become a barrier to coming back.

“Like many libraries, we’re always reviewing how our policies support access while still encouraging the timely return of items and acknowledging that the vast majority of the almost one million loans made each year are returned on time.

“Late fees have traditionally been used as a reminder, but across the sector there’s growing recognition that they don’t always change behaviour and can discourage people from using the library.

Unpaid cremation fees were among the debts written off.

“Our focus is on making it as easy as possible for people to use and return items through reminders, renewals, and flexible borrowing options.

“Any future changes would be guided by what helps people keep using the library while ensuring items are returned so others can enjoy them.’’

Other council debts written off include five unpaid fees of $670 each for cremation at Hamilton Park Cemetery.

Other wiped debts include fees for pool monitoring and food controls plans, including an unpaid food control plan invoice of $731 owed by now defunct, Cacao Limited related to the Theobroma Chocolate Lounge in the Chartwell Shopping Centre.

In addition, two unpaid building inspection invoices totalling $474 owed by defunct company Superior Windows and Doors Limited have also been written off.

Other debts written off related to smaller charges like those to feed impounded dogs.