Name: A librarian's case against overdue book fines
Uploaded: 2018-11-15T15:51:38Z
Duration: 13 min 43 s
Description: Libraries have the power to create a better world; they connect communities, promote literacy and spark lifelong learners. But there's one thing that keeps people away: the fear of overdue book fines. In this thought-provoking talk, librarian Dawn Wacek makes the case that fines don't actually do what we think they do. What if your library just ... stopped asking for them altogether?

Dawn Wacek: A librarian's case against overdue book fines

A librarian's case against overdue book fines

Libraries have the power to create a better world; they connect communities, promote literacy and spark lifelong learners. But there's one thing that keeps people away: the fear of overdue book fines. In this thought-provoking talk, librarian Dawn Wacek makes the case that fines don't actually do what we think they do. What if your library just ... stopped asking for them altogether?

Charging overdue fines keeps thousands from using their local library, especially in neighborhoods facing poverty. Fear of fees blocks access to books, programs, and the vocabulary children need to thrive, deepening educational gaps. Studies show fines make little difference in getting materials returned and represent a tiny, shrinking slice of library budgets. Removing fines welcomes back families and strengthens the library’s promise of equal opportunity for all.