All six St. Johns County library branches will close on Sundays and charge higher overdue fines effective Oct. 1.

The St. Johns County Public Library System said in a Sept. 16 announcement that updated fees take effect Oct. 1 and a new operating schedule begins Sunday, Oct. 4. The changes mark the system's first fee adjustment in more than a decade, according to the county.

The Bartram Trail Branch at 60 Davis Pond Blvd. in Fruit Cove is among the six locations affected. Residents who count on Sunday visits will need to shift to a Monday-through-Saturday schedule.

New fees, shorter hours take effect this fall

The county said the fee increases follow a broader cost analysis and reflect current operational costs. The First Coast Observer reported that specific dollar amounts for the new fines were not included in the announcement. The updated fee schedule is posted at sjcpls.org.

Sunday hours are being eliminated at every branch, and some evening hours will also be adjusted. The county said the schedule changes are based on visitation, circulation and service-usage data, though it did not release branch-by-branch figures.

Debra Rhodes Gibson, director of library services, said in the announcement that the adjustments follow analysis of visitation data and usage patterns. Gibson said the system remains fully staffed and committed to serving residents.

Six branches are affected: the Main Library in Ponte Vedra, the Southeast Branch in St. Augustine, the Bartram Trail Branch in Fruit Cove, the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch, the Hastings Branch and the Anastasia Island Branch. All will continue in-person service Monday through Saturday.

Digital resources stay available around the clock.

Staffing, rescheduling questions remain unanswered

The county has not said whether programs, meeting-room bookings or holds previously scheduled on Sundays will be rescheduled. It also has not disclosed whether the changes involve staff reductions or reassignments.

No public meeting or formal comment period has been announced. Residents who want to weigh in can email [email protected] or visit sjcpls.org.

Patrons with items currently checked out should note the Oct. 1 date. Any materials that become overdue on or after that day will accrue fines under the new fee structure.