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?

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, bastions of knowledge and community, face a paradox: their mission to serve all clashes with the barrier of fines.

A mere 1.5% of library budgets come from fines, yet these fees disproportionately prevent the most vulnerable from access.

Libraries bridge literacy gaps by offering equitable access, yet fines deter the most vulnerable. Consider a fine-free future.