Public libraries are letting children and teens off the hook for fines for overdue books.

In a welcome-back to school outreach to city kids, the New York Public Library System, (NYPL) Brooklyn Public Library and Queens Library, decided to overlook outstanding library fines as long as borrowed materials are returned. The offer is good until October 31.

Kids under age 17, in all five boroughs, (NYPL includes the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island), can clear their records and regain a working library card with the return of books. Usually, if you owe $15 or more, you can’t borrow books until you pay up. Under a program called, “ Start A New Chapter” funded by McGraw-Hill, whatever you owe will be erased. The libraries estimate that across the city, nearly  100,000  kids and teens will benefit from the program.