LATE FEES DON’T DECREASE AMOUNT OF OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOKS

Many libraries around the world are eliminating late fees for overdue library books. Why? Because they discovered late fees don’t actually work. In fact, without the threat of a fine, up to three times as many books are returned to the library on time. The reasoning comes from a 20-year-old study of daycare centers in the seaside Israeli town of Haifa. The schools all had a policy of a 4 p.m. pickup time, yet many parents would inevitably show up late. The daycares introduced a late fee to encourage late parents to arrive on time. Instead, the number of late parents rose. The reasoning? It was no longer embarrassing or socially unacceptable to be late, as long as you paid a reasonable penalty. Libraries have found the same reasoning applies to overdue books – the cost for keeping them too long is reasonable, and the money you pay goes to a cause you support, which is the library.
* That late library book I have must have racked up 65 cents in fines by now.
* There needs to be a negative penalty, like you bring us the book late, we donate your fine to the political party you hate.