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FreightProgram t1_izo76oo wrote

Reply to comment by Nouseforaname4 in NYC public libraries say proposed budget cuts may 'push us over the edge' by King-of-New-York

This is a crock of shit. Statistics overwhelmingly show that removing fines results in more books being returned.

Chicago saw 240% increase in return rate only 3 weeks after removing the fines. https://www.npr.org/2019/11/30/781374759/we-wanted-our-patrons-back-public-libraries-scrap-late-fines-to-alleviate-inequi

NYC saw almost 100k more overdue books and other items returned in a single year. Some overdue by decades. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/31/nyregion/nyc-library-fines-books-returned.html

Removing fines also increased traffic to the libraries and greatly benefited low income families

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Rottimer t1_izo85yr wrote

A lot of people can't wrap their heads around the idea that sometimes punishment and penalties aren't the answer. I find it truly ironic that some of the people that are most ardent about punishment, from late fees to capital punishment, are devout Christians. I never heard of Jesus saying - hey, you go to Hell for a bit to pay for all of your sins before getting into Heaven. Yet, you'd think that with the way punishment is held up as the main corrective for any problem with the human condition among many Christians in the U.S..

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