05/10/2026
Library abolishes all fines, including wiping clean all old outstanding balances.
That was the title of an email I received last week.
My first thought was probably the obvious one.
Why would they do that? Are they mad!
Think of the risks!
Would books disappear forever? Would normally respectable people start stockpiling crime novels? Would it lead to book anarchy in Barnstaple?
Apparently not.
Other libraries around the country have experimented with removing fines and it hasn’t resulted in the collapse of civilisation so far.
So I asked at my local library whether this was some sort of temporary amnesty.
“No. Other places have done that. But we’ve decided to make it forever. Simple.”
Wow! They’ve gone the full Monty.
You know how it is. You hear a song and it's everywhere. You buy a new car and the whole town seems to be driving it. You hear a news story and it’s in every newsfeed. So I started noticing the library. They are doing reading collabs with local RHS gardens, shops, clubs, pubs... They are serious about getting people reading books.
I thought I’d test how far this might go.
“How many books am I allowed to take out?”
“As many as you can carry.”
“Oh right!”
So naturally I did exactly what you would expect me to do.
I wandered around the two floors stacked from floor to ceiling choosing anything and everything that took my fancy.
I came home with titles ranging from Mapping the brain, A history of Cornwall, The Tapas Revolution…
I was delighted with myself.
And here I am on Monday morning looking at the pile and wondering where on earth to start.
So I’m writing this instead.
Later I might buy the paper. A couple of weeks ago I went to the Appledore Literary festival, met authors and bought books.
Do I sound crazy or just a tad enthusiastic?
After the initial elation at having gathered so much good stuff around me I’ve been feeling guilt for not having made much progress with any of it. So I might play a game of solitaire instead or just take a quick scroll through YouTube. Yes, I think more input will help!
The librarian also told me:
“When regular borrowers suddenly stop coming in, I take a look at their account and usually they have fines to pay. They can’t face it. So they stop coming.”
The fine that was supposed to encourage them to return the book has actually become the thing that stopped them from coming.
I teach French to adults. People who work hard. Care about their learning. Make it a priority.
Without fail every week I hear:
“I must practise more.”
“I need to work more on my grammar.”
“I’ve got to catch up.”
“I haven’t done enough.”
Are these a little pile of imaginary fines quietly accumulating?
What would happen if we wiped those clean too?
What if, instead, you said:
This is the French thing I’m doing this week.
It’s enough.
I enjoy it.
And whatever I do, I’m giving my brain some French to play with. Something to bank.
Sitting beside my bed is a small mountain of books in plastic covers. Later today I'm going to take them back to the library.
All except one.
I’ll read that one.
When I’m ready, I’ll take that one back and choose another.
The library isn’t going anywhere after all!
I don’t need a mountain of books beside my bed to prove I’m a reader.
And you don’t need twelve half-started French projects to prove you’re learning French.
I teach French one word at a time. In fact one word per month. If that appeals to you I am starting a new word this afternoon. Come and join me for a month and see what happens to your French. https://thefrenchroom.org/course/daily-french-study
Ellie
Learn French. Feel Good.
Learn French daily with Rendez-Vous Tutos. Short weekly tutorials built around high-frequency words to help you understand, use and speak French more naturally in real conversation.
