Throughout the month of July, the fee amnesty will be applied as a way to encourage the return of the 3,800 borrowed items that are currently outstanding.

Tinned and packaged foods that are unopened will be accepted by staff and donated to charity.

Mayor Marianne Saliba said it was a good opportunity for residents to kill two birds with one stone and donate to charity while ridding themselves of overdue fees. 

‘‘The library borrowing system relies on people returning the books and resources to make them available to everyone," Cr Saliba said.

‘‘Once people have returned the overdue library items they are more inclined to borrow again and use the vast resources available at the libraries,’’ she said.

The Food for Fines Library Amnesty will end on Thursday, July 31.