Chicago book returns surge 240% after city eliminates fines

Post by moate » Tue, Nov 12, 2019, 2:29 AM UTC

smileysteve wrote: post #138

tux1968 wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being young means you're less likely to be totally responsible yet. Being poor means you're less likely to have parents that are 100% engaged in your library visits.

Small fines seem like a great way to instill a sense of responsibility (while also acting as insurance style payments), especially if your parents already aren't engaged and ensuring you're responsible to duties. As this the Good Will Hunting quote suggests, in many libraries these fees were small, $1.25 in late fees for a Harvard Education...

Post by ClumsyPilot » Tue, Nov 12, 2019, 8:32 AM UTC

paulddraper wrote: post #135

ClumsyPilot wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's the medieval mentality, like there is a shortage of paper or something. The amount of it wasted in my office alone could supply every library in town. I'd be happy if a kid stole 10 books from my shelf and read one. The most expensive thing in the world is people that are unemployable, ignorant, need support and vote for the politicians we deserve! There should be like a national policy where kids get paid for r…

Books are valuable and scarce goods. Something tells me if you opened an online bookstore, you could make a nice little business...

Post by rhizome » Thu, Nov 14, 2019, 12:12 AM UTC

BoorishBears wrote: post #89

rhizome wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Self-checkout increases shrinkage If this is true, and I'm not sure it is, I bet the money they lose to theft is dwarfed by the amount they save by laying off most of their checkers.

Not only is it true, self-checkout machines can be adjusted to account for expected shrinkage. In one neighborhood the machine can be configured to be extremely sensitive to weight and quick to give loud warnings as soon as a mismatch occurs, in another it can be configured for easier use, by ignoring single weight mismatches and allowing voiding of cheaper items without employee oversight ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/…