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Comment by kleer001 | Hacker News Reader

Oh gosh, I wonder what the literal and naive fine would have been.

I too would have returned in anonymously.

They mention the fine based on when the book was checked out would be over $800, but under current rules would be capped at price of acquisition of the book or $1.50.

Actually the article says late fees were eliminated entirely in 2019. I wonder if news surrounding that factored into the book being returned, or if it was just coincidence.

I assume the price is not inflation adjusted?

Both are the current amount they would pay based on the late fee systems. So no?

That's a somewhat naïvely correct cap, seems to me it should be higher, to impose a bit of a penalty and discourage 'try before you buy'. Also is that acquisition cost the same as it is to the borrower anyway?

People who've studied whether public libraries should have fines at all appear to mostly conclude that no, they shouldn't, because it causes poor people to avoid checking out books. That's why libraries have gradually switched from fines to fines forgiven to not having fines at all.

Blockbuster used to make all of their profits from late fees. Public libraries have a purpose of encouraging reading.

They have to come with another method then. I'm interested in a book that got published this year, and my local library has it, but it's "missing or not returned". How come? I had to register my address, my phone, my email and my national ID to get the library card. They know exactly who has the book, they could reach him by phone and have a talk "please, return the book ASAP without late fee or we are sending someone to your house to collect it and fine you".

I'm all in for encourage reading. Not so much for encouraging stealing of public property.

Yup, that sucks.

It's the Tragedy of the commons. And IFAIK there's no way to solve it without charging for everything.

It's plausible this is actually a good outcome for the library in many cases: They can buy a new book at the loss of a worn one. Depending on the popularity of the book, they might rather spend it on another book anyways.

Modern libraries would need to include the prep cost in the acquisition cost though, which puts it above retail. Libraries often pay to have new books pre-catalogued, barcoded, and covered.

Doubt it, $1.50 then would be around $40.

None, because the borrower has almost certainly been dead for a long time.

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