WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester Public Library is wrapping up its feline fee forgiveness campaign, called March Meowness.

Executive director Jason Homer is proud of how an idea from his staff grew to have a global impact.

"We have cats from all over the world," Homer said showing the display. "From New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Scotland, and it wraps all the way around."

The Worcester Public Library started March Meowness as a fun way to forgive fees for lost or damaged items. They simply said, send in a picture of a cat and we'll forgive the fees.

Homer said the floodgates really started to open once news outlets like the New York Times and the BBC got wind of the story and reached out to him.

In total, the library received pictures of more than 10,000 animals from about 8,000 people from across the world.

"This was an amazing moment to take an idea from the staff and amp it up and see how big we could make it. This was a transformative experience for our whole library, for our whole community," Homer said. "The mayor of Worcester, Mayor Petty, came and gave the whole group that came up with this keys to the city. And it shows that the staff, no matter where they exist within an organization, can create amazing impact that is on a global scale."

Homer said cats from around the world helped unblock 2,874 accounts and every account which had fines with the library is now forgiven.

The Worcester Public Library plans to partner with other local libraries, and possibly libraries all over the country, for the next March Meowness. Homer said to keep an eye out.