Have you ever held onto a library book past its due date? If so, did you pay a fine? Have fines made you more hesitant to use the library?

Do you think late fees are a necessary way to nudge patrons to return items on time? Are they a good approach for raising money? Or, do you think libraries should get rid of fines as a way to create a more equitable system while encouraging more people to use the library?

In “The Library Ends Late Fees, and the Treasures Roll In,” Gina Cherelus writes about what happened when New York’s public library systems eliminated late fines:

Some items, checked out decades ago, arrived with apologetic notes. “Enclosed are books I have borrowed and kept in my house for 28-50 years! I am 75 years old now and these books have helped me through motherhood and my teaching career,” one patron wrote in an unsigned letter that accompanied a box of books dropped off at the New York Public Library’s main branch last fall. “I’m sorry for living with these books so long. They became family.”

Three DVD copies of “The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day,” a 2009 action film about Irish Catholic vigilantes in Boston that has a 23 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, were returned to three libraries in three different boroughs.

When New York’s public library systems announced last October that they would be eliminating all late fines, the goal was to get books and people back to the more than 200 branches, as well as research centers, across the city after a year and a half of limited hours and access.

The goal was achieved: A wave of returned overdue materials came crashing in, accompanied by a healthy increase (between 9 and 15 percent, depending on the borough) of returning visitors.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

• Have you ever held onto a library book past its due date? Have you ever had to pay late fees? Do library fines — and overdue books — stress you out?

• Do you think it’s a good idea for libraries to get rid of overdue fines? Why or why not?

• Do you think fines encourage patrons to return library books on time? Or, are there better ways — ones that don’t disproportionately impact high-need communities — to get people to bring overdue items back?

• Would you be more likely to check out books if you knew you wouldn’t have to pay a late fee? Would you be more likely to keep a library book past the due date?

Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.