Chicago Libraries To Waive Fines For Overdue Books

CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you finally return your overdue books, the Chicago Public Library will waive the fine.

As WBBM's Lisa Fielding tells us, today is the first day of the city's newest amnesty program.

Starting today through Sept. 7, fines for overdue books, CDs, DVDs and other materials will be waived--no matter how late they are.

This is the first time the library has done this in 20 years.

Officials hope to recover some of the literary treasures they say have been sitting in people's basements for a lot longer than that.

Since January 2011 alone, Chicago's 79 public libraries are owed $1.4 million in unpaid fees on overdue materials, valued at more than $2 million.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Lisa Fielding Reports