Forget being hit with a fine for the late return of a book, recording or other item borrowed from the Richmond Public Library.

The library system’s board, after a lengthy study, approved an end to fines for adults on Feb. 26.

RPL joins 200 public libraries across the country that have already taken that step, which the American Library Association has endorsed.

The elimination of fines went into effect the next day, according to Scott Firestine, director of RPL.

“We had many happy patrons when they discovered they weren’t punished for an item that was overdue,” he said.

The library ended fines for borrowers age 17 and under last year.

The decision does not carry a big price tag. The library system, which operates on a $6.3 million annual budget, projected collecting $66,000 in fines.

The main goal of the fine system was to encourage people to return borrowed materials.

Mr. Firestine said fines had the unin- tended consequence of discouraging people from using the library.

The program over time proved to be “punitive, inefficient and misguided. It turned out to be a barrier blocking people.

By getting ride of fines, we are taking a step forward to inform, empower and enrich,” he said.

He believes eliminating fines will make the library more welcoming to city residents and their children and encour- age people to take greater advantage of the offerings.

The library will continue to charge people if they return items that have been damaged and bill borrowers who never turn in or lose items. That’s been a relatively small problem. The library projected collecting $28,000 this year from patrons to replace damaged items.

The Richmond Public Library system includes the Main Library in Downtown, eight branch libraries around the city and a digital outlet.