LIBRARIES IN A FINE MESS OVER LATE FEES

SOFT-TOUCH justice gives people guilty of the most appalling crimes a slap on the wrist.

You should see what it gives people guilty of petty crimes – free books.

Geniuses, I can think of no other word for them, at Culture Perth and Kinross have decided to scrap fines imposed by the area’s public libraries for late returned books.

This, they say, will make them more ‘welcoming and inclusive places’.

Besides, in these financially straitened times, every little helps. Forgive me if I missed a plot-twist, but aren’t the fines supposed to make public libraries more inclusive by helping to ensure as many readers as possible get their turn with a popular book?

Are those who don’t return them really to be welcomed?

As for the cost of living crisis, shouldn’t it be fostering thrift and consideration for others rather than pardoning the selfishness of those who don’t play by the rules? There is a certain redemption in paying a small library fine – an acknowledgement that the world does not revolve around us and will not wait indefinitely for us to finish a book. It is handy awareness to have. And what measure, pray, will be taken to deter those who have overdue books outstanding?

They will not be able to borrow any more until the late ones are returned.

That does not sound to me like a library at all. It sounds like a free book dispensary.