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Starting Friday, April 1, the Washington Parish Library kicked off a six-month “Fine Amnesty Pilot Program.”

Through Saturday, Oct. 1, library users will be forgiven of all previous overdue fines for library books, DVDs, CDs, and magazines. We welcome library users to return any materials that have been long overdue. In exchange, replacement costs and fees for these items will be waived.

For library users who have lost library materials and have no hope of returning them to the library, all four branches of the Washington Parish Library will be accepting non-perishable food items for their “Food For Fines program.” Each nonperishable food item brought to a branch can eliminate up to $3 in library fines/replacement costs. The Washington Parish Library also encourages all community members to visit their library in person or online to explore and access services and programs.

We welcome library users — new and old — to our branches and are offering free replacement library cards for any users who need one. The Washington Parish Library offers a wide array of programs, classes and resources that are available in person or from the comfort of home, including our popular ebook resource CloudLibrary.

Washington Parish Library also offers technology that patrons can borrow, such as hotspots and laptops, as well as wifi and small community collection at Rawl’s Pharmacy in Mt. Hermon.

April 3-9 is National Library Week, a time to highlight the essential role libraries, librarians and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening communities. The theme for this year’s National Library Week is “Connect with Your Library,” which promotes the idea that libraries are places to get connected to technology by using broadband, computers and other resources. Most importantly, libraries also connect our communities to each other.

This National Library Week, the public can show their appreciation and support for libraries by visiting their library in person or online, following them on social media and using the hashtag, “#NationalLibraryWeek.”

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries of all types across the country each April. For more information, visit the Washington Parish Library’s website at www.washingtonparishlibrary.info.