A Fine Debate

Are Grafton, Wisconsin libraries going a little too far to get their library books back? Heidi Dalibor ignored letters telling her to return to library books (both Dan Brown novels), and the next thing she knew she was being handcuffed and lead away from her parents home. [Via]

Library fines have been the topic of hot debate in the UK, as Alison Flood reports in the Guardian, with anti-fine protesters calling charges for overdue books :

... punitive, old-fashioned and creating a negative impression of libraries

and ultimately alinienating users - at a time when reading has to be encouraged?

(There was more discussion of the issue on the Guardian blog.)

But what alternatives are there to fining? :

One librarian suggested adopting the ancient practice of some monasteries, in which monks who offended in the handling of books were publicly cursed. Another pointed to Soviet Russia, where they said that offenders' names were published in newspapers to shame them into returning their books. In New Zealand town Palmerston North next week, library users returning late books are being challenged to beat librarians on Guitar Hero to have their fines waived.

Perhaps you can think of some better ones?