Overdue Book

"Libraries step up pursuit of overdues"

The notion of shared library materials -- books, CDs, DVDs, etc. -- is one that relies heavily on a social tenet we're supposed to learn in kindergarten: if you borrow something, make sure you give it back.

Virtually all library patrons follow the rules, but the economic ripples caused by the 1 percent or so who don't eventually become a significant storm surge.

The overdue book stories just never get old for me. The Mercury News reports on a Library book returned 78 years late by an Alabama man. He discovered a national parks volume borrowed from an Ohio library in April 1927. He says he is relieved he won't get charged for this overdue book. Library spokeswoman Carla Davis said she doesn't know of any other books that have come back so tardy, although a lot of overdue materials are still out -- some 20,000 were due to be returned on Monday alone.
Thanks JET!

The Daily Herald [Illinois] has picked up on libraries using collection agencies. "We don't want their money," Nichols Library Circulation Supervisor Karen Knight said. "We just want the stuff back."

That "stuff" is costing a bundle when it's not returned, officials say.

"A lot of people think, 'Well, it's just the library,'" Knight said. "But we could be talking about significant amounts of money."

With libraries losing funding like water through a sieve, it only makes sense to keep track of the money that's owed by delinquent patrons. The Ottawa Public Library is doing just that, installing a computer program that will keep tabs electronically on scofflaw book borrowers.

Although they've already been using the services of a collection agency, the Library is planning to get them connected to a debt-collection program and recover what they estimate is more than $1 million in late fees. Story here .

York, Maine is one of several towns and cities that have decided to contribute late fees paid by patrons towards tsunami relief. Many Maine libraries chose to begin the drive last week (Maine library week), and most are contributing to UNICEF. The idea was spearheaded by Elizabeth Moran, director of the Camden Public Library.

Story from The Portsmouth Herald .

Pete writes "From JSOnline we have this story of libraries getting tough with patrons."Overdue library books and videos won't just prevent patrons from checking out the latest Harry Potter novel. Those overdue items might show up on their credit reports.Among six public libraries in Wisconsin, the Waukesha Public Library has turned to a collection agency to recover items that are not returned.The Wisconsin libraries are among the roughly 650 libraries in North America that have employed Unique Management Services Inc. as their collection agency.""

twistedlibrarian writes "Good thing he didn't run afoul of Seinfeld's Library Police.

"Billy Hawse is relieved he won't get charged for this overdue book.

And with good reason -- at $549 and counting, The Book of the National Parks would have one pricey fine.

The Huntsville, Ala., man found the Akron-Summit County Public Library book while fording through his late parents' estate. The due date made him gasp -- April 14, 1927."

The Mercury News "

A very short article from the Associated Press says When Michelle Nash got a bill for more than $350 in overdue fines and replacement costs from the Anoka County Library, she knew something was wrong.

It turned out that somebody else had been checking out CD's and books with the library card that her ten-year-old son, Garrett, lost last summer.

Garrett lost his wallet when he fell off his bike a block from home. The last time he recalled seeing his library card, it was in his wallet.

Several weeks ago, the Nashes started getting recorded messages from the library saying they were holding overdue materials. The fines had already reached $50.

USA Today tells us that librarians in Michigan want to crack down on overdue book borrowers...and they mean business.

Bay City Library Director Frederick Paffhausen pointed the finger at one patron from Bad Axe who owes $1,190 for 73 items — mainly science-fiction books — hoarded for more than a year.

Another AP story on another library on "frustrated librarians" proposing a crackdown on the worst overdue book offenders that could lead to criminal charges and up to 90 days in jail. Patrons keep an average of $25,000 in overdue materials out of the county's library system each year, officials said.
See Also a story out of Nebraska where Omaha's public libraries are about to get tough on people who ignore due dates on books and other items they check out.

Writer Christine Berge, who describes herself as a deadbeat library patron and a local (Santa Cruz CA) resident, gives us a "case study" of her overdue book fine in the Santa Cruz Sentinel .

Sharing responsibility for her woes are a wonderful kids book "Alberto the Dancing Alligator" by Richard Waring, her five-year-old son, and an incorrect e-mail address.

Hey mom, check under the bed first next time.

Anonymous Patron writes "Barry the Book on trail of bad borrowers, an article from Manchester (UK) Online looks at Barry Anderson. He arrives unannounced on the doorsteps of borrowers to reclaim their overdue library books. He is so good at his job that he has recovered a staggering haul of 10,500 books, 600 VHS videos, 300 CDs, 71 DVDs and 33 CD-Roms in five years - worth more than £55,000."

A library in Inverness (Scotland) has received a book that's been missing from its shelves--you know, the kind that gets stacked up in the wrong place, or misplaced among other items, or carried off by a visitor.

It was ONE HUNDRED YEARS and £5,000 overdue.

More info about the books extensive travels and its discovery in Johannesburg (South Africa) a century after it's due date--BBC News

Everyone knows that public libraries have problems when people don't return books or records or CDs.

But, in Norfolk Nebraska, one CD, more than any other, keeps disappearing. It is Pink Floyd's 1979 release The Wall. Here's the scoop .

What's a music lover to do?

Rich writes "Reuters reports that Italy's Senate Library is cracking down on senators' overdue library books, Here's the full story" Italy's Senate library is getting tough on forgetful lawmakers demanding they return books on Adolf Hitler and other subjects that are up to 25 years overdue.

Anonymous Patron writes "It seems overdue books are not a problem unique to North America. News From Kuala Lumpur reports Malaysians in central Pahang state have failed to return more than 20 000 books including some rare and limited editions from the state library, it was reported.

Some of the books were taken from the Pahang Public Library as long as 28 years ago, state library acting director Faridzah Jaafar said."

madtom writes "After Bryan Haynes was caught, Syracuse police could have thrown "the book" at him. The Syracuse motorist refused to pull over for officers - and even drove against traffic on Erie Boulevard trying to shake them - because he had a stolen library book in his car, Sgt. Thomas Connellan said. "It was stupid," Connellan said. The Syracuse motorist refused to pull over for officers - and even drove against traffic on Erie Boulevard trying to shake them - because he had a stolen library book in his car, Sgt. Thomas Connellan said.Source: Syracuse Post-Standard"

An Anonymous Patron sends "this audio piece from NPR's Morning Edition. No more polite letters from the Austin Public Library, which loses half a million dollars a year in lost materials and unpaid fines. Now patrons with overdue books will be hearing from a collection agency. (Real Audio required)"

With $2 million due in fines, some 26,000 items missing from their collection, and over 6,000 overdue accounts, the Wichita, KS library has decided, [at long last, it would seem] to engage the services of a collection agency to help get their money. "The worst offender is a reader who checked out 124 items nearly a decade ago and never returned them. The price of those items and fines add up to $2,430.66. Five other people owe more than $1,000." Read all about it.

Story from the Philadelphia Inquirer about renewed efforts to collect overdue fines from scofflaw book borrowers, part of a program to recover lost income after a significant budget cut last year.

According to Cecy Keller, Director of the Chester County System, a debt of over $50 to the library will go onto your
credit report, preventing library patrons from obtaining mortgages or bank loans not to mention withdrawal of library privileges.