People returned 2,340 overdue items to the New Haven Free Public Library during the “forgiveness” week after New Year’s, when all fines were waived.
That translated into $4,300 in forgiven fines, according to Manager of Circulation Services Maria Tonelli.
Click here for a previous story about books such as Catcher in the Rye and Golf for Dummies that were returned after years of delinquency, in some cases after decades.
Winning the prize for the longest overdue book was one that should have been returned in 1952. Very bad.
Tonelli said the book did not come back with the borrower but was brought in by “the gentleman’s” daughter.
The book was British novelist Geoffrey Household’s thriller “Rough Shoot,” which also became the basis for a 1953 movie.
The largest individual fine forgiven was for a woman who had so many books unreturned that she needed to make two trips to haul them all in. Had she been required to pay, her fine would have been $1,147.
Tonelli said in an email message: “When I called her to thank her for the returns, I also invited her to come in for a new library card. She came in the next day for her card and a hug.”
Tonelli said the woman “cherishes the library and plans to make frequent use of it in the future.
The fine forgiveness week was a prelude to the library increasing its fines to 20 cents a day for all books. For the first time, that includes kids’ books, which are often taken out in large numbers; the library permits up to 30 books with each borrowing.
“All in all it was a great week and a huge success,” said Tonelli.