A library in New York said a package that recently arrived from Virginia contained a big surprise -- an overdue book that had been checked out in 1933.
  • @IonAddisEnglish
    6•11 months ago

    The book was due back Oct. 11, 1933, and was returned just shy of being a full 90 years overdue, the library said.

    Officials said the book could have accumulated a fine of over $6,400 at the 20-cents-per-day rate, but fines are capped at $5.

    “No matter how long a Larchmont Public Library book is overdue, if it gets returned, the maximum fine is a whopping five bucks,” the library said on its website.

    I know that was a joke/quip by the library, but it reminded me that I appreciate the libraries that have dropped overdue fines. It might have even been the fine and a person’s inability to pay it as small as it was that kept this book from being returned initially.

    I BOUGHT a lot of books when I was young/poor instead of using the library because I got to actually keep the books that way, and the books I bought couldn’t shame me for returning them late.

    So the library fees, as small as they were, were tangled up in this money/guilt baggage that made me use libraries less, even though I’m the exact demographic libraries are aimed at. And I’m sure I’m not the only one.

    So yeah, I’m glad some libraries have dropped library fees.