#library fines

sobbing

what the hell do i do

In October 2021, the city’s libraries abolished fines on overdue materials and predicted it would unlock hundreds of thousands of people who had their cards blocked. 

Bookish Discussion: Library Fines

Let’s talk library fines. A while ago, my local library did away with overdue fees, and it’s been nice not to be super stressed about turning in books on time (though I always try to!) So, is this a good thing? Should all libraries follow suit? Part of the reason for library fees are to help the library operate. Things like overdue fines can lead to the library being able to acquire new books…

Almost any reader with a library card will be familiar with the concept of library fines. Libraries have been collecting fines since at least the late 1800s, originally using them to generate revenue for the library and also, in an example of strict father morality, to punish those who cannot adhere to arbitrary timelines.

When researching for this article, I was surprised to learn that research on going fine-free has been published since as far back as the 1970s. Similar to other movements involved with equality and equity, it took several decades — and in this case, a global pandemic — to put the idea across the finish line.

Going back to the Before Times, despite 35 years of research, over 90% of libraries still collected fines of some sort as of 2016. In January of 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) adopted a resolution adding the following to the ALA Policy Manual:

“The American Library Association asserts that imposition of monetary library fines creates a barrier to the provision of library and information services.”

Viewed through the lens of economic justice, it becomes easy to see how library fines would create a barrier to those who are most likely to need the library’s service: children and the socioeconomically disadvantaged.

It is clear that the elimination of library fines is a growing trend, and rightfully so. When we consider that the total amount of library fines collected prior to policy changes added up to to less than one half of one percent of each library system’s budget, the way forward seems clear.

...

Francel and Lee just finished their underwater training course and had made it back to New York City just before a blizzard hit. They ran inside a nearby hotel and decided to travel to the basement. There was a giant ballroom on the bottom floor with a side door in the back. 

The two kids walked through the side door and found another kid looking through what seemed to be a magical laboratory. 

The other kid was wearing shorts and no shoes, which was weird for the weather outside, and looked up when the two entered. "You shouldn’t know this place exists or be able to find this unless you have magic powers too. So what are you here for, is it his famous rabbit?" 

Lee and Francel looked at each other, confused, and Francel spoke up. "We didn't know this place existed until just now and the same for magic existing. But we are curious why a rabbit would be famous." 

The kid pointed over at a cage with a rabbit in it, "that right there is the rabbit and if you don't know, don't open the cage if you value your lives." He then grabbed a book off the table along with some notes and started to leave. 

Francel spoke up as he was about to open the door. "Wait, are you looking for a job? We were planning on finding people to join forces to create an adventurers guild." 

The kid responded nonchalantly. "Sure, I am not in any organization right now. Also, you may call me Metash. I plan on attending an auction and if you want to be adventurers, I recommend you and other people you find go there as well." He gave an odd smile and dashed out the door. 

The two kids shrugged at each other and started looking through the secret lab. It looked like a wizard had been studying alchemy here, but they were interrupted in their search with the sounds of someone walking down the staircase in the ballroom. 

Lee peeked out the door and saw a woman who also noticed him. 

She leaked malice into the air with every step she took and gave a wicked smile when she spotted him.

He quickly closed the door and explained it to Francel, who had an idea. Francel took the cage with the rabbit to the door, releasing it into the ballroom, to which sounds of ferocious fighting started up. 

The two kids snuck out of the room and broke the doorknob on the way out to hinder anyone that would try to go into the room. They made it upstairs to a casino where they spotted a man in a plain white shirt staring off at a man in a black coat who had a similar aura of malice. Lee and Francel caught the attention of the plain shirt guy and offered him the same job offer. He looked between the man in the coat and the two kids before accepting, snapping his fingers.

The lights broke.

The man grabbed both of them, running towards the exit to the hotel, and when they were outside the hotel they saw the police barricading the hotel.

It seemed the police were stopping everyone from passing, as Metash was outside still wearing shorts and no shoes, even in the foot of snow on the ground. 

"Stop and put your hands up, we have caught wind of a disturbance at this location," a police officer said on a megaphone. 

Metash just looked back at the other three. "Think of a spot we are safe at." Then he swiftly pulled out a thick book and cast something, transforming into an older wizard as a purple door appeared in front of them.

They were pulled through the door, arriving in front of Francels' father's empty shop in the city. 

Getting inside and comfortable, the fireplace starting to heat up the cool air, the man in the plain white shirt spoke up while glaring at Metash. "Why did you hire this monster?" 

Lee looked at Metash who had turned back into a child and seemed to be looking over some notes. "Are you saying that because he wears no winter clothing?" 

"No, he is saying that because I have outstanding library fines from taking a book with me as I left." Metash and the plain-shirt man stared at each other until the doorbell rang, startling everyone.

An old man was outside at the door and as Lee opened the door, he spoke. "I thought I would give a tip to you new adventurers about the location where something is going to happen before the auction later this week." He handed an address to Lee and then walked off.

Lee showed the address to the rest of them and they went to find that it led to an opera house. 

They got their seats only to see that there were two familiar people on the stage in the midst of the other performers dressed in black- the woman and man from earlier- only now the woman has visible scratches on her face. 

As the performance started, they started feeling tired and noticed other viewers also felt the same, doing whatever they could to stay awake. Once everyone in the audience but the four new friends fell asleep, the lights went out. 

Starting January 2, 2020, there will no longer be daily late fines at Seattle libraries thanks to a library levy voted in this year.

Imagine what else this town, and the entire country, could do if we just managed to tax Jeff Bezos?

Rory McCann who portrayed Sandor 'The Hound' Clegane quoted in a piece at sify.com which originated at IANS. That quote is taken from the Reunion Special which is included with the DVD boxed set of all eight seasons. Presumably this particular bit was originally recorded circa 2012.

It shows how quickly your fortunes can change when you just hang in there.

Also, props to Rory for paying his library fines! 💳