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H.R.4248 / 103rd Congress

Library of Congress Book Protection Act of 1994

Referred to the Subcommittee on Libraries and Memorials.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 19, 1994

Library of Congress Book Protection Act of 1994 - Requires the Librarian of Congress to promulgate regulations to: (1) establish a schedule of late fines for any borrower who has a book on loan for more than 70 days; (2) assess a late fine on such borrower; (3) suspend his or her loan privileges and that of all borrowers on his or her office loan account if the borrower has not returned a book after such period; (4) reinstate the loan privileges of any borrower after the return of the book and the payment of all late fines; and (5) provide for waivers, at the discretion of the Librarian, with regard to all or any part of an assessed late fine and the suspension of all or any part of the borrower's loan privileges. Requires the Librarian to establish a Late Book Fine Fund to be available to the Librarian without fiscal year limitation for general operating expenses of the Library of Congress and the replacement of lost or stolen books. Prohibits Federal funds from being used to pay the assessed late fine. Imposes a fine for such violation. Requires the Librarian to include in the annual report submitted to the Congress: (1) the estimated number of books that are missing from the Library due to borrowers who have had loan privileges suspended; (2) the name of any office with an office loan account that includes any borrower who has had loan privileges suspended and has been assessed late fines that have not been paid for more than one month; (3) the total amount of such fines assessed to each named office; (4) all monies deposited in the Fund; and (5) the amounts and uses of expenditures from the Fund.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Fields, Jack [R-TX-8] · R–TX

Committees

  • Committee on House Administration
1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Libraries and Memorials.

  2. Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

  3. Introduced in House

  4. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 26, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.4248 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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