This library can now jail you if books are returned late

This American public library, Athens-Limestone Public Library wants to start unforcing more stricter rules on people who fail to return borrowed books.

With roughly $200,000 owed to them in overdue book fees, the library is going to start enforcing a mostly unknown city ordinance that will prescribe further fines and the possibility of jail time for those who have neglected to pay fees, according to The News Courier.

The ordinance allows the municipality to fine or jail for 30 days library patrons who have “failed or refused to return” rented materials.

This is not an empty threat, chief of police Floyd Johnson verified they would be arresting people: “It’s been a good long while, but we’ve had people who have been picked up over overdue library books.”

The Athens-Limestone Public Library will be issuing arrest warrants for large past-due balances, and they indicated that they wouldn’t go after any “5-year-olds with overdue copies of ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog.’”

So if you are into borrowing books and never returning them. The police are coming for you.

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