LISNews: Librarian News

The only reason I'm posting this is it's the first long-overdue-book-gets-returned story of 2006. That, and a lede which says there was a JFK Library in Vallejo, California in 1938. (They must've known he'd be President some day!)

An Anonymous Patron writes "Hunt for overdue books is Unique is one from The Courier-Journal, in Louisville, KT, on Unique Management Services, the library collection agency. The company makes its calls from downtown Jeffersonville, from what most recently was a Dollar General Store. The building has space for two, maybe three, times as many callers as the 50-something it has now. After all, most libraries still are not clients.

Co-owners Lyle Stucki and Charlie Gary have confidence in their company's novel niche, though. What library easily can afford to replace everything not returned? Besides, some items cannot be replaced, regardless."

The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County is enlisting the help of a collection agency to get back items gone missing on 2000+ accounts. More here from the
Cincinnati Enquirer. The article also tells users to forget about waiting for an amnesty day. The library hasn't had one since the 80s, and has no plans to offer one.

Anonymous Patron writes "The AP Reports A man who borrowed a book in 1981 from his hometown library in suburban Buffalo has returned it, along with $2,190.

Joel Schlesinger would have owed 10 cents a day up to $10, the maximum penalty for an overdue book that year. Even now, the fine is only 25 cents a day up to $15.

But in 2005, the library system and Erie County have financial troubles. He returned "The Joy of Camping" to the Orchard Park Public Library last Friday with something extra in the check."