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I Tried To Pay My Library Fine
I Tried to Pay My Library Fine
I recently returned two overdue library books expecting to pay a fine. Instead, I learned that my local library no longer charges overdue fines.
That announcement surprised me. I’ve been going to the library since I was a child, when my grandfather would take me to pick out books. Back then, returning a book on time—and paying a small fine when you didn’t—was simply part of the arrangement.
In this episode, I reflect on how much libraries have changed and wrestle with what happens when the financial consequence for an overdue book disappears. Does eliminating…
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