Be Careful with Library Books! When Dan McClellan checked out two-dozen books from the Harold B. Lee Library, he was only concerned with finding the information he needed for an important research paper.
The first week, he used a highlighter to mark the information he needed. To him, it was no big deal. After all, there were other markings in the books, as well as some creases and turned-down corners. McClellan’s wife thought otherwise, and told him it was illegal. McClellan stopped, but he had already marked chapters in five of the books.
Soon after he returned the books, McClellan, 27, an ancient Near Eastern studies major from Dallas, found himself in the library security office facing a class C misdemeanor for book mutilation.
“I was told that they were going to start pursuing these cases criminally instead of civilly,”
Ack!
I’m sorry, I would hope by the time you’re in college, or grad school, that you know enough not to mark up library books. And I sure as hell hope that by the time you’re that age, you know that “just because others have done it” doesn’t mean you should.
That being said, I think that criminal charges are excessive. I think making the student pay for the books is quite sufficient. Although, the library probably then runs into the sticky area… If he paid for the books, he will want to keep them. And they’re probably still in circulating condition (this could be even dicier if they’re out of print books).
Well
Having a one-off criminal case against someone like this would stop others doing it and also show that if someone did it again they’re not afraid to bring charges.
But really, ‘highlighting’ passages? Pencil I could understand, post-it notes yes but using a highlighter? What an idiot, I think a criminal case is a good idea this time.
I’d also think about banning him from the Library.