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Ask HN: Are no late fees really a response to the pandemic emptying libraries?
- jfengel 5y agoIt's something libraries have been doing for a while. Here's a statement from the American Library Association in January 2019: https://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/governance/council/council_documents/2019_ms_council_docs/ALA%20CD%2038%20RESOLUTION%20ON%20MONETARY%20LIBRARY%20FINES%20AS%20A%20FORM%20OF%20SOCIAL%20JUSTICE%20Revised%201_27_0.pdf https://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/co... Key points: Whereas monetary fines present an economic barrier to access of library materials and services; Whereas there is mounting evidence that indicates eliminating fines increases library card adoption and library usage; Whereas monetary fines create a barrier in public relations, and absorb valuable staff time applying, collecting, and managing dues; In other words: fines discriminate against poor people and make it harder for them to use the library. The whole point of a library is to make books available to everybody, especially those who can't afford them. The pandemic gave them all a good opportunity to make the policy change, but the goal had been in place for a while.