late fees don't work https://www.fromthegrapevine.com/lifestyle/science-confirms-late-fees-library-books-dont-work?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark
Fascinating stuff. But how do we account for the fact that when libraries offer no-fine amnesty periods for returning overdue books, they are often (I believe) deluged with books. --John Bear, who discovered a book my father had checked out of the Lick Observatory library 40 years earlier. They seemed very pleased to get it back.
If I'm thinking about this correctly I think that phenomenon would be accounted for within the research. The monetary fine is ineffective as people feel like there is a business structure that covers their continuing to hold the book(s). Essentially, it's allowable to hold the book as long as you're willing to pay the fine whenever the book is returned. However, once the fine structure is removed (such as in an amnesty period) it is not longer "socially acceptable" to hold the book and the social pressures force the holders to return them. At least that's the way I'm reading it.