Unreal news of a Wednesday.

Ever used a public library card? You probably have. Ever used a public library card and racked up a hefty fine because you forgot to bring a load of books back? You definitely have. Public library fines are literally nothing compared to college library fines, but still, knowing you've an outstanding fee on your account is honestly enough to make you want to never want to step foot inside the building again. No really, it is. Which is why the Our Public Libraries scheme has decided to wipe everybody's fines in a bid to double active library membership by the end of 2022. Not a bad incentive, in fairness. The fines were automatically removed from all public library accounts yesterday, on New Year's Day. From now on, they will be replaced with email reminders about overdue items. After the third reminder, the user's card will be blocked until they bring the item back to the library. According to the scheme, there is little evidence to suggest that fines encourage people to bring back books on time. Rather, they simply deter young and disadvantaged people from continuing to avail of the service. Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring has welcomed the scheme, saying that public libraries should be "relevant, modern, and high quality." You can read more about the scheme here.