In today’s Chicago Tribune, a brief article announces the decision by the New York City Public Library to allow anyone who owes outstanding fines to pay off their debt by doing one thing: read.
For every 15 minutes of reading, one dollar will be knocked off the total fine. Since many of those who are barred from borrowing because of high fines ($15 or more) are children 17 or younger, the library thinks this will be perceived as a good deal for both sides.
Barbara L.