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The Good News Podcast is your thrice weekly reminder that not all news is bad.
Hi, I'm Neil, the host of the good news podcast. This is your source for good news, fun stories and Sonic joy. All of this goodness is coming to you from beautiful Chicago, Illinois. Today's good news comes to us from Worcester, Massachusetts, where their library system is taking a unique tack to fine forgiveness. I know that libraries are a common theme on the good news podcast. But libraries are just the best. And selfishly I know, my mom, a retired librarian is partial to these kinds of stories. In recent years, a lot of libraries have moved away from fines, they're usually not very expensive. But I think libraries figured out that they are punishing the people who need the library most. And there's been a wave of library systems that are doing away with late fees entirely, and figuring out ways to forgive fines and encourage people to come back into the library, if they've made lending mistakes in the past like losing a book or never returning something. The library system in Worcester, Massachusetts, which is near-ish to Boston has been brainstorming ways to get people back into the library post pandemic. And in the past, they've tried things like a canned food drive to forgive fines, but it seems like now they have really figured out the best way to get people back in and get their fines forgiven pictures of cats. That's right in the month of March, the Worcester mass, March Meowness. If you have a lost or damaged book, you can bring in a photograph or drawing of a cat and get your library card turned back on and your fines forgiven. I read about this in the New York Times and The WBUR local NPR station, and it's a great idea and it sure seems like local library patrons are loving it. Jason Homer, the executive director of the library, was interviewed about the program and says, Even honorary cats are welcome. We take a lot of honorary cats. He's quoted as saying any ungovernable animal. I like that. I think you could bring in a picture of like, camel, aren't they famously stubborn and still find forgiveness at the library so far? Again, according to Mr. Homer, about 400 people have gotten their borrowing privileges back. The Worcester Public Library Facebook page has some excellent cat themed content on there. If you want to see exactly what's going down for March Meowness. Libraries are awesome and good news. To wrap up, part of this initiative is also just to help people rethink their local librarian so that people don't think of them as that old timey grumpy librarian. Mr. Homer again, is quoted as saying, we don't really have the high buns and shush people anymore. We are still book lovers, cardigan lovers and cat lovers, which is definitely good news. That's the good news I have for you today. Enjoy the rest of your day. Thanks for listening. If you've got good news or an idea for the show, amazing. Send an email to Hello at the good news podcast.fm. While you're at it, follow us on Twitter at the good news pod. If you love the show, think about supporting our Patreon or reviewing us wherever you're getting this podcast from. Both are great. The music you hear on the show is from Paddington Bear. Have a great day.