Throw the Book at Them

California is host to a number of weird things that make it the justifiable butt of many jokes, but this idea sounds like one that ought to spread.

While the library board in Los Angeles County recently voted to end late fees for patrons under 21, they did not offer any amnesty for current fines. So the library developed its "Read Away" program, which forgives $5 in fines for every hour spent reading at the library. Since a balance of $10 suspends borrowing privileges, the alternative route allows kids who may not be able to get that kind of money to "work off" the debt through reading.

The young lady whose story leads off the article, in fact, logged more reading time than she needed to erase her fine -- once she got into a book, she lost track of time and couldn't put it down.

I bet that kid's going places.