Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for ProjectArt
Chicago became the largest U.S. city to drop fees for overdue books at its public libraries, joining 150 other library systems in the U.S. and Canada, reports the Wall Street Journal.
Why it matters: Libraries are struggling to maintain borrowers in the digital era, and some of the aversion is associated with people's negative feelings about returning overdue books, per the Wall Street Journal. In fact, libraries in St. Paul, Minn. saw circulation go up 2% after getting rid of overdue fees, according to the WSJ. Dallas, Tex., and Oakland, Calif., are among other communities that have jumped on to the late-fee amnesty movement.
Go deeper: Public libraries help students fend off summer learning loss