Cathleen Allison/Nevada Appeal Carson City Library Circulation Supervisor Gerry Pearson sorts through some of the items donated to the library in lieu of fines.
The Carson City Library is taking sharing to a new level this holiday season, offering residents the chance at a clean slate in exchange for sharing with those in need.
For the fourth time, the library is offering amnesty to library patrons for fines on overdue materials in exchange for a donation to two local agencies.
"This is all of our community and we should share. You can share by helping the Ron Wood Center or Toys for Tots and also by the library getting back our materials so the community can use them," said Elaine Werlinger, Carson City Library audio visual coordinator.
Through Nov. 23, the library is accepting canned food, packaged items and travel-sized toiletries for the Ron Wood Family Resource Center. Then from Nov. 28 to Dec. 20, patrons can bring a new unwrapped toy in original packaging for the Toys For Tots program.
"It's just a great way to help the Ron Wood Center and Toys for Tots while clearing their records," said Werlinger. "The center really needs the help this time of year especially close to the holidays."
In 2004, the drive garnered 52 cases of food for the center and collected 18 barrels of new toys for the holiday program.
"We had 18 barrels and that didn't include the four brand-new bicycles donated by one couple. We have a lot of generous people in this community," Werlinger said.
In addition to helping with local causes, the library is also able to retrieve lost materials and allow people the opportunity to remove any overdue fines.
"I did one personally that was $24 and that was just fines. It can add up and we want to do what we can to help," said Werlinger.
Amnesty is not available on fines resulting from lost or damaged items, just fines on overdue materials.
The Carson City Library is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at the corner of Roop and Washington Streets. For more information call 887-2244 or go to www.carson-city.nv.us/library.
n Contact reporter Jarid Shipley at jshipley@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.