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Return Late Library Items For Free During Amnesty Week

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Got some old library books or DVDs lying around your house? Well, you're in luck. 

Monique Griego has more on how the library is offering you a clean slate during Amnesty Week. 

It's a crime most of us have committed.

"I'm guilty as charged," said Bernard McPherson.

"You forget and you want to keep in longer, but you forget to return it or something happens," said Jawan Smith.

Not returning an item to the library may not mean jail, but the fees can add up. So if you're guilty of hoarding a hardcover or two, this is your lucky week.  

"If you owe any books, CDs, DVDs, this is the week to take advantage of," said Roswell Encina from the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

He says during Amnesty Week, which runs until Saturday, you can return any item and have your late fees waived.

"For a lot of people who have kids, work or simply get busy, it's a good way to clean your slate without having to pay a large fine,"  McPherson said.

Right now the library is missing around 172,000 items. For them the books, CDs and DVDs are much more valuable than the money they'd make back in fees.

"The money that we're not going to be receiving is not a huge impact on our budget," Encina said. "What is a huge impact on our budget is not having these items in our library for other people to enjoy."

Smith took advantage of amnesty.

"I had a big fine," he said. "A really, big fine."

Smith's hoping others do the same so the shelves remain stocked. 

Amnesty Week runs through Saturday. All items are included, from DVDs to books to CDs.

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