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Read Away Program

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Read at home and reduce your balance!

As part of Library Card Sign-up Month, we are bringing back our popular Read Away program in September. All Salinas Public Library cardholders of all ages, can reduce and remove fees from their library account by reading them away.
For every day spent reading, $5 in fees will be removed from your account. How easy is that?

To participate in the program, complete this form (available starting September 1st) after you finish reading. Include your library card number, number of days read, and tell us about what you've read. Our staff will review and let you know when the fees have been removed from your account. 

This program will run from September 1 through September 30, 2024.

 

How do I qualify?

If you have a Salinas Public Library card with fees or balance on your account, you’re eligible! You just have to log the number of days you have read by submitting the form above. 

Do I have to read a book to receive credit, or can I watch a movie, listen to music, or surf the web, instead?

Only reading material qualifies for credit, but that means more than just books — you can also read graphic novels or comic books, magazines and newspapers, or listen to audiobooks. You can read books that you already have at home, borrowed from the library, or borrowed from our digital library now easily accessible through our catalog. For little children, being read by an adult also counts for credit.

* Watching movies, even if based on a book, or listening to music do not count for this program.

Do I have to read the whole day to get credit?

No. While the program is based on a $5-a-day credit system, we are not requiring you to read for a certain period of time each day to get the credit. We do encourage you to read 30-60 minutes everyday.

What fees will be waived?

Any and all fees accrued on your card. We will waive lost and damaged material replacement fees, processing fees, and library card replacement fees.

* Fees related to printing cost or meeting room rental are not eligible for this program.
** Since we no longer charge overdue/late fines, if you have one on your account, please let our staff know. We will remove all previously accrued overdue fines immediately.

If I don't have any balance on my account, or I already paid them, can I get cash or credits?

No. The Read Away program waives outstanding fees only. No reimbursement of past fees or credit towards possible future fees will be provided.

Can I read to reduce fines accrued on another person’s account?

A parent or caregiver may read to a child, thereby reducing the fees on the child’s account (not the parent’s). Otherwise, no, you must read away the fees on your own account and cannot reduce the fees of other cardholders.