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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