Unhappy with library fine payment system

My puppy ate my library book. Well, at least rendered it unfit for library use. I asked the Champaign library clerk how much I would have to pay, and she said $25 plus a $5 surcharge. I asked if I could pay $5 a month and she said I could set up a payment plan. (I am a senior on a limited income and caring for a disabled family member).

Then she said brightly, "You can still use the computer!" I discovered that meant I could not take books out because you can't take books out until you owe less than $5. This would mean I couldn't take books out for about five months.