Borrowed Books…Pay On Time Or Else! Love Your Library!!!

        Wow, i messed up.  Yesterday, i received an email notice (in an old email account) telling me that i had overdue books at the library.  I didn’t realize that my email address  that they had on file for notices was an old one.  So, it is an old account; and, i do not check it but every couple of months….that was a costly mistake.

         When i saw the email yesterday…it said that i owed like 6 or 7 dollars…ouch that hurt, but ok.  I found the books; took them in and went to pay the fine at the library.  When i told her that i had book fees and that i just found out about it she smiled at me.  I thought that is nice.  But, i did mention that since i checked those books out a couple of months ago…i had probably checked out another 30 books since then, and no-one had told me that i had overdue books & fees.  I found that strange.

          Anytime i have had fees in the past…as soon as i went in to check out more books…i paid them as soon as i found out.  They didn’t send me any notice in the mail or anything…no phone call either.  So, i was shocked when i read the email.  But anyway, when i got ready to pay her…she seemed embarassed and said…actually the fee was like 13.00 because more fees accrued since the notice was sent.  OUCH again.  But, i owed it…what could i say…i paid it.  I love my library and i would never, not pay it…nor would i go very long without paying it, if i owed them, once i knew about it…so it was a bit embarassing.  However, the worker was wonderful and gave me my receipt.

         Still, i wonder if people actually understand that sometimes people don’t pay their fines.  It can actually affect your credit and if you do have fines and don’t pay them…a library can contact a collection agency to get their money from you.  Wow, that is terrible that a library would actually have to do something so drastic.  It is important to understand that if you borrow it is important to return them on time…and when you mess up…pay promptly. 

          Like i said, i was embarassed…the two books were tucked underneath some newspapers in the enclosed footstool; where i keep library books that aren’t being read at the moment, so they were overlooked for return, when they were due.  🙂  Glad to be in right standing with my library.  I check out about 10 books a week…so, i want to stay friendly with my buds at the library!

           Then today, i read about a woman in Wisconsin who borrowed books from a library and wouldn’t return them and wouldn’t pay her fines.  They repeatedly sent her notices, called her, and the library even contacted the police who cited her and set up a court date.  The woman did not repond to any of the notices, nor the phone calls….nor did she show up for the court date.  She was arrested…i am saying…geez…pay up or return the books already…that is nuts!!!  She ended up paying like a $170 fine.  But the woman says, she is not returning the books…she considers them paid for.  Say what??? i hope she has that in writing…’cause i just bet that the $170 fine was a fine just for court costs…i bet she still owes fines or fees for the replacement cost of the books. 

          I am glad that I opened that old email account…you can bet that i will update their records, so that they understand how to get ahold of me; if i should ever mess up turning in my books by the time they are due again…i try not to let that happen…but, i sure want to know about it; if i somehow miss my due date!  Love your library, treat them with respect, and you will have a lifelong lending/borrowing relationship with your pals at the library!!!  There is no where else in the world where you can get to know so much, go so many places, or meet so many wonderful characters as at your library.  It is great entertainment…and, as long as you return them on time…it is fairly cheap enterainment! 🙂

         

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Kilpatrick Publically Un-ivited…How Embarassing!!!

      Is there no end to the humiliation that Kwame Kilpatrick is willing to endure to stay in office?  I mean, the man has been in jail in the last week, been released, ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device, his travel has been restricted, he has been “invited” by local clergy, to please step down from his position out of respect for the people of Detroit, Michigan Govenor Granholm says that she won’t pardon him should he be convicted of the charges before the court, and now, the coupe de grace…he is being “un-invited” to attend the Democratic National Convention, allegedly, by a spokesman for  Sen. Obama; because the focus would be taken off of Senator Barack Obama; and, Kwame Kilpatrick would be a “distraction”. 

       My opinion is, who could tell whether Mr. Kilpatrick was a distraction, what with the news that Oprah will be there, Bill Clinton will be making a speech, and of course, Hillary his former competition will be there.   This whole Democratic National Convention is looking like a big ole slice of distraction pie anyway…but still, enough is enough regarding Mr. Kilpatrick.  The stress of this whole case, has to be having an enormous effect on him and his family; it is hard enough to go through these issues privately…but, publically is a whole different matter.  As far as he goes, i guess it is his problem…he put himself in that position…but his family and friends…that is another matter…they aren’t the ones being accused but they are in the middle of it just because they are close to him.

       Besides Mr. Kilpatrick being pushed and pulled like a human yo-yo between two court room jurisdictions; being allowed to travel to the Democratic National Convention by one judge, forbid by another, told to wear the electronic monitor, then given permission to have it removed; only, to have it re-attached four hours later, it has to be taking up all of his time just to deal with the legalities; when and how does he start healing his relationships. 

       How many times, and in how many ways, does Mr. Kilpatrick have to be told to move on…it is a little like a woman throwing herself at a man; a man who: a).  doesn’t want her, b)  doesn’t need her, and, c).  is thinking about filing harassment charges against her; and finally, d).  has to go into the witness protection program, because he can’t get away from the woman who has turned a little extreme, and is acting out a role in a fatal attraction, kind of way!   I mean really, a compulsive person who is driven to act in ways that are not in their best interest, and can’t seem to help making things worse for themselves; and, is in denial about it…really needs to find a way to understand that the ordeal has to end sometime…so why not take control of the resignation before it ends in total political humiliation?   Of course, i don’t know how much more humiliating it could get than to be publically un-invited to your own party’s national convention.

         Like a moth drawn to the flame…the moth can’t seem to help itself before it is too late.     Isn’t there someone in his personal life, or one of his close advisors that he respects, who cares enough about him to say…step down…do it for yourself or, your family if for no other reason;… because this isn’t good for you, your family, or for Michigan?  This last year in politics has been nothing but controversy for Michigan…most of us have had enough frustration and embarassment.

        The whole mess has elevated to a new level of dismay with each new court appearance, or news article that gets published, or video clips that make the nightly news.  Someone, somewhere is thinking that this will make a great book with all kinds of insider explanations…please don’t…some of us have to continue to live in the state of Michigan…even after the Kilpatrick soap opera is brought to an end; and, healing begins to take place. 

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