It isn’t trite to talk about libraries in this digital age, and am sure you agree with me. People love to hold a book over a coffee while sitting by the window despite the digital age.
A not-so-silent revolution has commenced in a world where fines often feel like a toll on the joy of reading - how charming. It looks like, readers are now back in libraries. For this, a huge thanks goes to those who champion the Right to Education guaranteed under their Constitution.
Libraries are not just repositories of books but contribute to social welfare [literacy] and strive to provide access to those from the marginalised community
While most libraries charge a small amount of fine for overdue books, there are harsh realities in some or the other corners of the world which prohibit people from accessing public or university libraries.
Look at this. In India, the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela charges Rs. 1/day for up to 7 days of delay, beyond which it is Rs. 5/day for up to 21 days, and over 22 days it is Rs. 10 per day. While some university libraries are charging a flat Rs. 2 to 5 per day, the Tiruvallur Government Law College has been a little harsh on its students - it charges Rs. 2 per day and if you fail to return the book by the last working day, you are debarred from appearing for the University examination. Very sad, isn’t it?
A very interesting survey reflects that some hold a Guinness World Record for paying the highest library book fine. That’s right. Ms Emily Canellos-Simms paid the largest book fine of more than $ 345 in the year 2002. She found the book, Days and Deeds, a book of children’s poems in her mother’s house that was due back at the Kewanee Public Library in Illinois on April 19, 1955. Imagine, the fine had accumulated at two cents a day when she paid it 47 years later. The power of volunteerism of Ms Emily Canellos-Simms deserves accolades. Do you agree?
There are several reported wacky stories of unreturned books, and if they were to be returned, someone else, dead or alive, would have broken the record of Emily but the following two are worthy of a mention:
The President, George Washington borrowed The Law of Nations from the New York Society Library - and did not return it for the rest of his life. It appears, in 2010, the head librarian joked that they were not actively pursuing the overdue fines, they would appreciate having it back. And voila, a month later, the Mount Vernon Estate did return the book after 221 years.
For over 63 years, a copy of The Adventures of Pinocchio was missing from Warwick, England’s Rugby Library. It was returned to the library during its ‘fine amnesty’ period and it had capped the fine at £ 5.22.
The educationists and librarians are the silent and innovative warriors. They have been a little benevolent, too. How?
A Central Library in Palayam [Kerala] in India being unable to get borrowers to return 3000 books between 1971 and 2000, valiantly wrote off in the year 2017, Rs. 8.82 lakhs [US $ 10,577] in fine. As if not enough, it offered a concession of up to 20 to 80% on payment of the fine without any result.
And finally, the award goes to The Worcester Public Library in Worcester, Mass., USA for its charming revolution of library fines. It announced that throughout the last month of March 2024, people who have lost or damaged a book or overdue books can bring a photograph, drawing, or magazine clipping of a cat, a doodle or a sketch, and get their library fines waived and library cards reactivated.
Long Live The Charming Revolution of Library Fines.
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