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Syracuse City Libraries Go “Fine Free” for Veterans Syracuse City Libraries go "Fine Free" for Veterans

By Joseph Trently

(SOT 1: Mike)

(“Yeah it’s a nice tribute, especially just after Veterans Day. So I’m very happy with it.”)

(Track 1: Joe)

Mike Morgan is a veteran himself, serving in the United States Coast Guard from 1974 through 1976.
He was stationed in the Great Lakes.
He is a regular here at the Central Library, and says this new initiative will bring nothing but good things to both the library and the community.

(SOT 2: Mike)

(“It’s going to be very positive. You’re going to see people bringing books back that they didn’t know they, in storage you know. Things that were lost in the tide so to speak.”)

(Track 2: Joe)

Morgan shows up to the library around three times a week, but not only for books he is interested in.
He has built a relationship with many of the staff members, and voiced his opinion on how library patrons are treated.

(SOT 3: Mike)

(“Again the staff has been wonderful here. I wish I could give them all a raise and a company car.”)

***Live Standup*** Joe

(“Now as you can see Mike is a very interesting character himself, and I got his perspective as he is a veteran himself. He was in the Coast Guard back in the seventies. But I also spoke with the manager here at the Central Library, and she told me the reason as to why they started this initiative here in the first place.”)

(SOT 4: Rene)

(“It’s like a small way we can kind of do our part to say thank you. They give up so much for us, and if their books are a little bit late, why charge them?”)

(Track 3: Joe)

Battelle said it was something that the board and the executive director had been thinking about for a while, and they felt this was the right time to debut it.

(SOT 5: Rene)

(“We just felt it was time. We already offer a fine free children’s card, and we wanted to do something especially around Veterans Day to recognize veterans and active military for their service.”)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News)-  The holiday season is here, which includes a lot of giving. One local library chain is finding a way to give back to the veterans who give so much for us.

The Syracuse City Branch Libraries are going “fine free” for veterans and active service members. Veterans can go to any one of the branch libraries, and simply show their military ID, which they will then be put into the system for exemption of late fees.

“It’s going to be very positive,” said Mike Morgan, a Coast Guard veteran himself. “You’re going to see people bringing books back that they didn’t know they had in storage.”

The new rule was activated on Nov. 1 to kick off veterans month.

“We wanted to do something especially around Veterans Day,” said Rene Battelle, manager of the Central Library in downtown Syracuse. “We already offer a free children’s card, and we just felt it was time to do something for our veterans and active service members.”

The branch noticed that a lot of other businesses were advertising Veterans Day deals, and they figured they’d also do something for the men and women who have given so much to us.

“It’s a small way that we can say thank you,” Battelle said. “They give up so much for us, and if their books are a little bit late, why charge them?”

Morgan also touched on how well the library staff connects with the patrons who visit.

“This is a top of the line staff,” Morgan said. “I wish I could give them all a raise and a company car.”

Morgan visits the library around three times a week, and touched on how inviting it can be to consumers.

“Excellent,”  Morgan said. “It’s nice and bright. I’ve never had a negative experience. It’s a great refuge for young learners you know. Some people need a place to go, and this can be that place for them.”

The other branch libraries that are also hopping on board with this rule include:

  • Manlius Library
  • Liverpool Public Library
  • Onondaga Free Library
  • Community Library of Jamesville and DeWitt

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