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Lost a library book? It doesn’t have to be a cat-tastrophe.
At least not throughout the month of March in Worcester, Massachusetts.
A library there will scratch sure charges off a book borrower’s report in trade for an image of the particular person’s cat — or any cat, for that matter.
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The purpose is to encourage individuals to learn and go to the library, even when they owe cash for a misplaced or broken book.
“People are struggling and sometimes choosing between paying for that book that, literally, your dog ate for $30 or buying $30 worth of groceries — those are two very different things,” Jason Homer, government director of the Worcester Public Library, informed Fox News Digital.
It’s all about cats on the Worcester Public Library, because it promotes “March Meowness,” a time when charges for misplaced books will be paid by sharing cat images. The library additionally has a schedule of occasions for the month, together with cat crafts, a screening of the movie “Cats,” lectures, story instances and extra. (Worcester County Public Library)
“And, people do have priorities. So we want to come to them with kindness, with forgiveness and say, ‘Just be part of our community.’”
It’s referred to as the “Feline Fee Forgiveness” program — all a part of the library’s month-long “March Meowness” occasion.
It goals to scale back obstacles to returning to the library, no matter an individual’s circumstances.
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And Homer and his workers thought, What higher method to welcome individuals than with comfortable, cuddly cats?
“A librarian is a book lover, a cardigan lover and a cat lover,” Homer mentioned.
Jason Homer, government director of the Worcester Public Library, mentioned he believes studying is the “great equalizer” and needs to present methods for individuals to settle their misplaced book charges to allow them to return to the library. (Worcester County Public Library)
“Our workers has a number of cats. Some of the workers have been in a gathering and so they have been arising with methods to convey individuals again to the library, and so they thought, ‘What if we removed as many barriers as possible and told people they could show us a picture of a cat, draw a picture of a cat or just tell us about a cat?'”
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In 2020, the library got rid of fines for overdue books. Why? Because so many people, after the COVID lockdown, had misplaced books that were not able to be returned in person.
In Worcester, that time period lasted for a year and a half, Homer said.
“We see literacy, both written literacy and digital literacy, as two of the biggest equalizers.”
“There’s a significant number of studies done by public libraries across the country that have proven we don’t get books back with fines,” Homer said.
“We end up losing people. Realistically, those fines did really nothing for the library, and it wasn’t really a money-generating piece. It was more like a sitting debt that was never paid.”
Homer said lost library books are a nationwide issue.
“Many communities have this list of kids that have these $30 fees on their cards when they had no control and there was no ill intent,” Homer said.
To remove any potential boundaries people might have in returning to their public libraries, one library director and his team thought it would be a good idea to ask people for photos, drawings or even a chat about cats instead of charging fines for lost books. (iStock)
“There’s no way to really collect that. So we’re moving on. And ultimately the goal here was to find some way to get people to come back to the library — [people who] might be afraid of the feeling that they will get penalized. We would rather work with funders to get the money and not have to punish kids for some things that are out of their control.”
On average, the library collected around $11,000 in fines, Homer said, but it now has a foundation that could cover those fines — as long as the book is eventually returned.
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“When you lose or damage a book beyond lend-ability — say you drop it in the ocean and it’s lined with sand and jellyfish and we will’t take it again and mortgage it to one other particular person — we do have charges for that,” mentioned Homer.
“Reading is something that helps people elevate themselves and make their lives better.” (iStock)
Still, well-meaning individuals have accidents and Homer and his crew mentioned they don’t need that to get in the way in which of progress and enlightenment.
“Reading is the best equalizer we have,” Homer mentioned.
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“It is a space where people can learn, grow, experience things. We see literacy, both written literacy and digital literacy, as two of the biggest equalizers that we can afford [for] our community. Reading is something that helps people elevate themselves and make their lives better.”
Plus, it’s patriotic.
“We love cats and we want people to share their cats with us, even if they don’t have lost items. It’s just another way to include everyone.”
“What’s more American than a public library?” Homer additionally mentioned.
“We have a baseball stadium subsequent door and we frequently joke that we have now the 2 most American issues — a public library and baseball — proper subsequent door to one another. And in order that’s, for us, one thing that is equally vital.”
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The library has occasions scheduled throughout “March Meowness,” together with crafts and cat toy-making, story instances, lectures, a film screening of “Cats” and even a de-stress cat petting session.
The library mentioned it will accept images of “honorary” cats, canine, raccoons, orcas or capybaras. (Worcester County Public Library)
Homer mentioned the forgiveness payment really extends method past cats.
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The library will accept images of “honorary” cats, canine, raccoons, orcas or capybaras.
Avoid pesky late charges this month on the Worcester County Public Library thanks to the “Feline Fee Forgiveness” program throughout “March Meowness.” (Worcester County Public Library/iStock)
“Any ungovernable animal is good to us,” he mentioned.
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