If you ask teens why they rarely visit libraries, they’ll likely say something about the mean librarians or slow computers. But the issue of late fines almost always comes up. That’s why I wasn't surprised when the Columbus (OH) Metropolitan Library surveyed their young patrons and discovered that 41 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds said their library cards were blocked due to overdue materials. These kids weren't using the library because they couldn't afford it. I’m the first to admit that library fines are a tricky issue to tackle. Young adult librarians spend much of their time talking to their colleagues about the differences between serving young children and teens. We argue for separate programming, collections, space, and staff because teens have very different needs. But when it comes to fines, we defend teens by saying, “Well, they’re just kids.” Meanwhile, many people think libraries should raise late fees to help make up for their financial shortfalls, and others think fines should be enforced to teach teens a lesson in responsibility. I’m not suggesting that we let teens off the hook when it comes to paying fines, but shouldn't we offer other solutions if late fees prevent them from coming to the library? Here’s what I suggest: start by seeing if fines really affect teen library use. This is easily done by checking how many teens have blocked cards due to late fees. Kids typically think libraries charge late fees to punish people for returning materials late or to discourage people from keeping things too long. If you ask your colleagues the same question, they’ll likely say that late fees are a way to teach teens a lesson in accountability. While these answers are reasonable, the truth is that libraries just want their stuff back so they can lend them out to other people. Don’t assume that teens inherently understand the ins and outs of libraries—we need to educate them about how they work. Try drafting a brief statement for your colleagues so they can explain the need for fines when teens sign up for library cards. Library Card Sign-up Month in September is another great time to tell teens about the library’s overdue charges. And don’t forget about e-mail. It’s a perfect way to remind teens that the items they've checked out are due and that they can renew their library materials online. Since some teens come from families with limited financial resources, try offering them the chance to work off fines by volunteering, cleaning books, or reading aloud to small children. A “read off” agreement in which children and teens read books at a rate of $2 per hour was a major part of the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Fresh Start campaign. Some libraries, such as the Kansas City (MO) Public Library, also offer unique fine forgiveness options. For a limited time each year, the library’s Food for Fines campaign lets patrons subtract $1 off their fines for every can of food they donate to the library. Programs like these, however, aren't for every library, since many may argue that they reward irresponsible behavior. But if your library happens to offer an amnesty program, be sure teens are aware of it. Blockbuster, the movie rental company, abandoned its library-style late-fee system for a more modern approach to lending—the borrow-something-else-when-you’re-finished model. Netflix and many other companies don’t have due dates or charge late fees, and people seem to like the revolving-door system. If libraries adopted this approach to lending, we’d surely see a lot less teens racking up overdue fines. Unfortunately, there’s no one solution to this problem. But whether it’s staff training, educating teens, or simply starting a dialogue with teens and your staff, the effect of fines on teen services deserves your attention.