Sometimes good things happen
The Library That Let Go of Grudges (and Late Fees)
Some say forgiveness is divine. Turns out, the Freeport Public Library in Illinois agrees wholeheartedly and decided to do something about it. Last week, in a delightfully unexpected twist, they did something rather revolutionary - they forgave every single overdue book fine.
All of them. No questions. No stern looks. Not even for that copy of Clifford the Big Red Dog that vanished in 1997.
The Story
Yes, really. If you’ve been lying low for 14 years because Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is still hiding under your bed, then congratulations. You are now officially absolved.
Library director Sara Miller explained it best - “We realised the fines weren’t helping. In fact, they were doing quite the opposite, keeping people away. Especially the ones who needed us most.”
And so, they declared a “Fine Forgiveness Fiesta.” (Yes, there were streamers and bunting) Long-lost books came trickling back, some wrapped in brown paper like shy apologies. One elderly gentleman returned Moby Dick with a handwritten note - “He finally caught the whale.”
But what began as a simple amnesty turned into something rather more magical. Children lined up for free bookmarks shaped like stars. Local teens read poetry in the sunshine. And someone, identity still unknown, turned up in a suspiciously enthusiastic Sherlock Holmes costume, ready to solve the Case of the Vanishing Due Dates.
Reflection
Quite a small and inconsequential thing on one level, but small things often carry the biggest meaning. In letting go of late fees, the library let go of shame, guilt, and dusty obstacles. They didn’t just retrieve overdue books—they welcomed people back into a space that says, you still belong here.
And maybe that’s the quiet magic of community: systems that choose compassion over punishment. Have a think about how you could apply this kind of thinking and gesture in your business, community or family.
Tiny Things
· A teenager in India invented a solar-powered ironing cart to help street vendors—and won an international award.
· A Florida man planted 500 native trees in his neighborhood, simply because he “missed seeing birds.”
· Two rival pizza shops in Chicago teamed up for a charity “collab pie” to support kids’ art classes. Yes, the deep dish détente is real.
The End
So, if you’re holding onto a little guilt (or an overdue DVD from the early 2000s), maybe this is your week to bring it home, shake off the shame, and start fresh. The world has plenty of rules already, maybe what we really need is a little more grace and a little more being nice just for the hell of it.