'We Wanted Our Patrons Back' — Public Libraries Scrap Late Fines To Alleviate Inequity

npr ^ | 11/30/2019 | Emma Bowman

[BenLurkin]

Maybe one day, Ramirez hopes, other patrons will be checking out books that she herself wrote.

Any suggestions for titles?

[A_perfect_lady]

Maybe one day, Ramirez will donate $30 to the library. Ha ha ha ha... yeah, no, she never will. Even if she gets rich.

[noiseman]

Catch Me if You Can

[Leaning Right]

> Any suggestions for titles? <

It’s a bit lengthy, but here’s my entry:

“If you like your library book, keep it as long as you want. Who cares if someone else is waiting for it.”

I suppose that will be shortened when Hollywood turns her book into a movie.

[SamAdams76]

Not sure if this is the right message to send. Where do we draw the line? Can somebody just not return books for months or years at a time and have the fines forgiven?

I've been using the library most of my life and there were times I'd drive there in bad weather in order to get the books back on time. Not so much to avoid the fine but out of courtesy for others who might be waiting on the book to be returned so they can borrow it next.

[TexasGator]

This works great for those on the wait-list.

[SunkenCiv]

"For the price of a month of Netflix, you can get right with your library. Thanks BenLurkin.

[from occupied ga]

Excuse me while I wipe away a tear. So sad that this deadbeat won’t cough up $10 to use the library. (Your favorite execration here) her. A library without fines is a free book give away to the lazy and dishonest. All at the honest taxpayers’ expense of course

[dfwgator]

“Hey man, don’t Bundy that book!”

[Larry Lucido]

I have one. How about "Statue of Limitations"? It will outsell "Tropic of Cancer."

Just how long can a $10.00 library fine collect interest, anyway? (With all due respect to Lt. Bookman).

[Kozak]

Maybe one day, Ramirez hopes, other patrons will be checking out books that she herself wrote.
Any suggestions for titles?

“If you save a penny a day over 20 years you can pay your fine”

[Larry Lucido]

"Yeah, yeah. Bake a pie, eat a pie."

[mjp]

"It stands to reason these same users will also stay away if they have already incurred a fine simply because they don't have the money to pay the fine."

or they are just thieves with a parasitic looter mentality

[The people have spoken]

Electronic books are the future. No late fees.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Oh hey...that reminds me...

[dfwgator]

Miss DeGroot : You know, Mr. Bundy, I’ve worked at this library for 44 years. I was eligible for retirement 3 years ago. Do you know why I stayed?

Al Bundy : You learned to eat books?

[wally_bert]

Print is dead.

[CheneyClone]

“Can somebody just not return books for months or years at a time and have the fines forgiven? “

My wife works in a public library in suburban MD. Yes, it happens all the time. Up to $75 in fines are all but forgiven. At $75 the fines are turned over to a collection agency.

[dsrtsage]

It is unfair to expect minorities to abide by rules meant for white people, especially since they are hardest hit

[Truthoverpower]

So this moron illegal doesn’t have 30$. ? What a loser