When my mother first opened her daycare she didn’t have many books for babies and toddlers, so she depended on the public libraries. You could request books from any library in the state and pick them up at your local branch, but were limited to 50 books at a time.
Mom got around that by using her three sons’ cards, since we were minors and didn’t have complete control over them. My older brother probably never noticed or even cared since he didn’t read anything other than the occasional Sports Illustrated or Slam magazine. My younger brother was part of the target audience of the books mom would take out so it wasn’t a problem for him. But for 9-10 year old me, it was a BIG problem.
During the fall and winter I didn’t gripe as much because I had the school library to fill my need. Plus I knew she couldn’t afford to just buy books. During the summer months is when I was more vocal. With so many books taken out, a few were always bound to be misplaced or damaged. So if I finally had space to borrow a book or two, there would usually be an overdue or replacement fee on my card. My only choice then would be to just sit in the library and read them right there.
You know, at most libraries, when the fines exceed the cost of the book, they usually just let you pay for the book. You might even get to keep it then. Or if your library really does charge the fine per day no matter how long overdue the book is, and it’s been so long you know that paying for the book would be cheaper, then just go to the library and tell them you lost it. I had a friend that did that. She kept procrastinating and knew the fines probably added up to twice the cost of the book so she just said the lost it. Which was good because I wanted to borrow it from her. Yes, I gave it back to her.
I once borrowed a DVD from the library. When I returned it it was 2 days overdue, and the fine was more than enough to buy a new DVD. I haven’t been to the library since.
I forgot a book or two when I was a kid and found that the fine couldn’t exceed the cost of the book. At least that was true for Cook County libraries in Illinois.
I once accidentally took a book out of the library without checking it out. (Apparently the book detectors couldn’t see through my bags. After a few weeks I realized I never checked it out, so I went back to check it out, but it had since been removed from the catalogue. I took it to the front desk, let them know what happened, and they took it back. Crisis averted!
By odd coincidence today’s paper had an article about a 65 yo man who found a library book in his basement that he had checked out when he was 13. He took it back to the library, embarrassed, and explained that he had forgotten about it. The library calculated that with today’s fees the fine was over $2000, but they decided to forgive the fine and display the book & story as an reminder for other students.
Our library did away with past-due fees this year. They found it increased usage without increasing overdue books. You still have to pay if you don’t return a book at all.
Templo S.U.D. over 5 years ago
Jason, you sneak, getting your sister in trouble with the library.
momofalex7 over 5 years ago
I don’t think you ever pay in fines more than the book is worth.
batmanwithprep over 5 years ago
When my mother first opened her daycare she didn’t have many books for babies and toddlers, so she depended on the public libraries. You could request books from any library in the state and pick them up at your local branch, but were limited to 50 books at a time.
Mom got around that by using her three sons’ cards, since we were minors and didn’t have complete control over them. My older brother probably never noticed or even cared since he didn’t read anything other than the occasional Sports Illustrated or Slam magazine. My younger brother was part of the target audience of the books mom would take out so it wasn’t a problem for him. But for 9-10 year old me, it was a BIG problem.
During the fall and winter I didn’t gripe as much because I had the school library to fill my need. Plus I knew she couldn’t afford to just buy books. During the summer months is when I was more vocal. With so many books taken out, a few were always bound to be misplaced or damaged. So if I finally had space to borrow a book or two, there would usually be an overdue or replacement fee on my card. My only choice then would be to just sit in the library and read them right there.
the lost wizard over 5 years ago
Time to find a raft and disappear.
chris_o42 over 5 years ago
Enter Mr. Bookman of the Library Police.
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 5 years ago
At moms suggestion.. Jason will glad to pay the fine out of his allowance..
bookworm0812 over 5 years ago
You know, at most libraries, when the fines exceed the cost of the book, they usually just let you pay for the book. You might even get to keep it then. Or if your library really does charge the fine per day no matter how long overdue the book is, and it’s been so long you know that paying for the book would be cheaper, then just go to the library and tell them you lost it. I had a friend that did that. She kept procrastinating and knew the fines probably added up to twice the cost of the book so she just said the lost it. Which was good because I wanted to borrow it from her. Yes, I gave it back to her.
switchblade_0 over 5 years ago
The older I get, the more I’ve come to realize that Jason is kind of an a-hole.
Purple People Eater over 5 years ago
I once borrowed a DVD from the library. When I returned it it was 2 days overdue, and the fine was more than enough to buy a new DVD. I haven’t been to the library since.
Bill The Nuke over 5 years ago
I forgot a book or two when I was a kid and found that the fine couldn’t exceed the cost of the book. At least that was true for Cook County libraries in Illinois.
BiggerNate91 over 5 years ago
I once accidentally took a book out of the library without checking it out. (Apparently the book detectors couldn’t see through my bags. After a few weeks I realized I never checked it out, so I went back to check it out, but it had since been removed from the catalogue. I took it to the front desk, let them know what happened, and they took it back. Crisis averted!
HappyDog/ᵀʳʸ ᴮᵒᶻᵒ ⁴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶦᵗ Premium Member over 5 years ago
By odd coincidence today’s paper had an article about a 65 yo man who found a library book in his basement that he had checked out when he was 13. He took it back to the library, embarrassed, and explained that he had forgotten about it. The library calculated that with today’s fees the fine was over $2000, but they decided to forgive the fine and display the book & story as an reminder for other students.
Brian Premium Member over 5 years ago
My library always had a max fine. When I was a kid it was $1 for books. Now I think it’s $5. But I usually get e-books anyway and those can’t be late.
jbarnes over 5 years ago
Our library did away with past-due fees this year. They found it increased usage without increasing overdue books. You still have to pay if you don’t return a book at all.
bigpianoguy over 5 years ago
I used to wait for the yearly ‘Free Day’ to return my books…
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 5 years ago
She will make him pay in blood.