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I am at the point where I never want to see a library again. Nope. In the distant past, my sis took books out on my account and I was charged over a $100. Ok it was paid off and I thought that was the end of it. Oh no it had only begun. It got worse. I was fined for a book that I lost in the back of my Mom’s car but I found and returned it. But since then, quite wrongly, the library has continued to ding me for books I have returned- ON TIME. They did it to me a few times and I was forced to pay. Now we have a new fancy library that is just a pretty space- while people starve on the streets. Where is funding for that? I got a book through interlibrary loan for my research as i am a writer and I returned the book before the due date at the new library. Upon reviewing my library account online, I noticed I had an $8.00 fine. Wait-what? I returned the book. The library staff must be getting sloppy or just figuring it is easier to ding an innocent patron for a book than to go through the effort of checking to see if the book is actually in the library. They keep doing this to me though I always have books in on time. i am sure that is the thinking. I have no problem with having books in on time. But I have an issue with being fined for books I always bring in on time – and in good condition. I get dinged for that too. Well i am a devout book lover and book addict. I never ever damage a book. But do i get dinged for it? yes. And now I am fined money for a book that was retuned. I will now spend my time, my energy- and my money elsewhere. I started a Facebook page on Facebook titled Book Addicts Anonymous. I am such a book lover so I should be a person who would be responsible with them right?? Wish I could convince the evil library staff of that fact. —Heddy Johannesen
This article appears in Jan 8-14, 2015.
You missed the Amnesty the liberry had to relieve people of late fees. I think it ended at the beginning of January – if you went in to the liberry or called them, they would have wiped out all your fines. You could try calling them and ask. They might remove the fines for you if you tell them you missed the Amnesty date… so you can go on with your book learnins, Miss Heddy. The offer does not include lost items though. Like that evil book on NLP I pitched out the winder in my mania, readin’ bout dat shit caused my psychosis!
I call utter bullshit on this one.
http://byspecialrequest.files.wordpress.co…
Heddy, darling, you do not always have your tomes returned on time as you claim. You lost one in the back of your mothers car and your sister was delinquent returning books taken out on your account. Your account, your fine, your responsibility.
Uneducated people is a turn off.
It seems odd that only you, OB, have these constant problems with the library, so I’m more apt to think you aren’t as on top of things as you say. Why don’t you return the books and ask for a return receipt? Maybe they can give you one.
“Now we have a new fancy library that is just a pretty space- while people starve on the streets. Where is funding for that?”….that is an incredibly silly statement. If that’s the case, why do we have parks, why do we put money into tourism, why do we fund parades, why anything? There is funding for people who are living on the streets, and the problem there is not always as simple as throwing money at it. Maybe you could take out a book on the subject….just make sure you get it back in time.
I call BS. If you’re a library client, you would have known all of December was amnesty month. Further, it is YOUR library card, why does your sister have yours and you can look online for the items you have out..
PROBLEMS IN LOGIC
“Now we have a fancy new library hat is just a pretty space – while people starve in the streets.” Heddy Johannesen
What is the logical connection between those two assertions? Is it a cause-effect relationship? What would that look like? Or is it only a statistical correlation? What about correlating the fancy new library with the incidence of irritable bowel syndrome? Perhaps your next book should address thinking logically.
In the meantime, why not adopt Marie Antoinettes’ solution” “Let them eat books!”
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
Has anyone ever told you that you can’t write for biscuits, Heddy? The poorly worded flow of your grievance indicates that you’re wasting your time at the library.
The library also keeps the street people warm for all your blathering about the Great Unwashed.
Get smart :p Make a quick ledger in a pocket book and record when you returned the book and get the librarian to sign the space, that way you have proof that you returned it. It may be more work, but if you’re dead set on using the library and they keep finining you… well you gotta do something.
My wife is also a book lover & she carries a library card… I have on more occasions than I can remember , being asked to drop books for her at the East Hants Library , they have this slot, I don’t even have to go in. So what is the excuse for the books being late ?
Also just an FYI as a book lover she has hundreds & hundreds of books. She owns them …. ever thought of going that route ?
a writer?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpQcj1xbZbU/UIQW…
I’m so… so very sorry.
Maybe they figure you’re batshit crazy and choose not to care? I have returned books that were reshelved before getting scanned back into inventory and had them show up as missing on my account. Took one e-mail from me to them to get a trace on the books and the error corrected. Happened a few times over the years. No big deal.
Was the 8 bucks a charge for the interlibrary loan?
Some libraries charge for that kind of thing, OB.
In any event, when you bring your books back, go to the counter and request to have them discharged right then and there. The clerk won’t have a problem with this and then you can ask for a receipt or a print out of your account balance with a date on it.
Easy peazy, lemon squeezy 😉
You still borrow books from the library? It’s the 21st century. Only old people and freaks go to libraries anymore.
For someone who claims to be a book addict you certainly aren’t very good at book learning, are ya? I think my IQ just dropped because I read this shit!!!
The library is a SOCIAL CONTRACT and a CIVICS LESSON all in one.
YOU (the patron) have access to almost every piece of literature ever created, along with the sum total of humankind’s collected knowledge and wisdom FOR FREE. . . . on the condition that you take responsibility for the items you borrow and bring them back on time.
Children seem to have no problem working within this arrangement; most adults seem to get the hang of it pretty quickly too, with a bit of practice.