What do Keith Richards, George Washington and I have in
common? We all love the library, and have the fines to prove it!
Have you seen the new Spencer Road Library? My husband says they built at least one wing
with the late fees I’ve had to pay through the years. (Hey, I was busy.) However,
my guilt has been assuaged. I recently learned that delaying the return of
books follows a strong tradition dating back to the beginning of our country.
Currently, I have two overdue books that will go back
tomorrow, bringing my fine to a hefty $7. Richards and Washington, however, have
fees that are significantly more substantial. Richards confessed that he failed
to return books borrowed from his early teens, and Washington checked out two
on Oct. 5, 1789 that have yet to be returned. Although there is no exact figure
for Richards, adjusting for inflation, Washington’s fine would be somewhere in
the ballpark of $300,000.
So tell me, what’s the largest fine you’ve ever had to pay?
Write soon,
Mary
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/18/george-washington-library-new-york
