Chicago Public Library Doubling Fines

If you habitually return books late to the library like we do, you'll have to dig a little deeper into your pocket come January 1, 2009, when the Chicago Public Library is doubling its late fee, from 10 to 20 cents per day. The maximum fine -- provided the book is eventually returned -- is increasing from $5 to $10. Other large library systems in the country have already been charging a similar fee -- New York is 25 cents, and Los Angeles is 30 cents. (They read books out there?) Late fees brought in $1.6 million to the CPL in 2007, so if people don't starting pinching those extra dimes and circulation rates stay at their current highs, they may be looking at over $3 million next year.