Read Away Fines 2026

Learn & Explore

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Ask a Librarian!*

Want personal assistance? Did our FAQs not answer your questions? Contact us:

Email: library.salinas.gov

Phone: Mon - Fri
(831) 758-7311, or
(831) 758-7302

Phone: Tues - Sat
(831) 758-7345, or
(831) 758-7302

¡Hablamos Español!

*Please include your 14-digit library card number for fastest service

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Celebrate "National Library Card Sign-up Month" with SPL's "Read Away Fines" Program

For the month of September, our popular 'Read Away Fines' program is returning! All Salinas Public Library cardholders 0-100+ can reduce their eligible library fees by $5/day by simply 'reading them away,' free of charge.  

Quick-start

  • Log in to your account HERE to confirm your card is active
  • Read our FAQ below for eligible fines, terms, and conditions
    • Review the details of your account's current balance to confirm your fees are eligible
  • Track every day you read in Sept, a $5 credit/day (no minimum reading time)
  • Track some details about your reading to share on the claim form (full titles, reviews, etc)

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An active SPL library card is required (by the time you submit your form for fee credit).

  • Is your old card not working? Click HERE for the most common issues and how to solve them. 
  • Have never had a card with the Salinas Public Library? Click HERE to learn about how to get your first free library card.
  • Have you lost your card altogether? Great news: replacement library cards are FREE for the month of September!

Who can join?

Everyone with eligible fees to 'Read Away' on a library card for the Salinas Public Library may join.

Do I have to read all day to get credit?

No reading marathon is necessary. The library has no minimums to participate in the program, but our guideline would be around 30-60min per day. 

Do I have to read the book? Or can I watch the TV/movie instead?

Only reading material qualifies for credit, but this can include:

  • Audiobooks
  • Graphic novels, comics, magazines, newspapers, and other visual reading material
  • Text for homework outside of normal school hours
  • Fan fiction/webtoons

What should I read? I don't know where to start.

In-Person Recommendations

  • Ask our friendly staff for recommendations, browse our 'New' sections, or pull from one of our themed displays

Virtual Recommendations (Available 24/7)

  • Browse the library's online Novelist Plus platform HERE for personalized reading recommendations, including read-alikes for popular TV shows like Arcane
  • Browse the library's online catalog HERE to search for titles and browse our curated lists of bestsellers, our newest titles, etc
  • Download one of our free eReading/eListening platforms HERE (ie. Libby & the New York Times) on our 'Download It' webpage to browse thousands of options available now

What are the fee credit terms and conditions?

Eligible Fees for Credit

  • Lost and damaged material replacements, processing, and previous library card replacements

Ineligible Fees (including but not limited to)

  • Printing costs
  • Meeting room rental fees

Credit Limitations

  • Will only apply to the outstanding fee balance until $0 on a singular personal library card
    • Any 'extra credit' is null and void as well as non-transferable in any way, including but not limited to cash, credit, or reimbursement
  • Crediting submitted claim forms is ultimately at the library's final discretion in the event of evidence of tampering, fraud, or any other bad action

How can my young child participate to 'Read Away' their library card's fees?

Parents/caregivers may read aloud to a young child to gain credit days for their child's card's fees. However, if the parent also wanted to participate with their personal library card, they would not be able to double-dip the credit from reading aloud to their child and would need to read at a different time to earn their own credit. In this way, credit is never transferable to more than one card. 

Submitting the Claim Form:

Read Away Fines claim form with program and SPL branding, introduction, eligibility, and due dates

Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2026 at 5pm
Forms will all release Sept 7

  • Online: Click HERE to fill out the MS form (email not required)
  • In-person: Fill out a paper form and submit it to staff at one of our three branches (también disponible en Español)

Information Needed:

  • the 14-digit library card number
  • the # of days read in Sept
  • Some details to share about your reading, (full titles, reviews, reactions, etc)

Congratulations! Staff will follow-up with you in 5-7 business days to confirm your new account balance after the credits