Return Your Books!

Stuff we should click on.  Be sure to state Not Work Safe, if applicable.  KTHX.
Post Reply
Leisher
Site Admin
Posts: 71816
Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 9:17 pm
Contact:

Return Your Books!

Post by Leisher »

Couple arrested for overdue books.

I find the comments to be the most amazing part about this story. People trying to defend them or say the cops were wrong or tax payer money could be better spent elsewhere...

1. These people were called multiple times and received regular mail including a certified letter informing them of the overdue books and what would happen if they didn't return them. This went on over a period of months.
2. Due to this being a constant problem for the library the entire city was put on notice that they'd be turning these cases over to the cops.
2. After all the notices, they turned the case over to the cops in an effort to get back taxpayer property.
3. The cops didn't arrest them, they simply told them to come down to the station to self report.
4. The couple paid their fines, but don't want to pay back the cops for their time, which is what the fee covers. Again, that's taxpayer money...

So should the library have simply stopped trying to get the books back? Should the cops not be involved in stolen taxpayer property? Should they have handcuffed these people instead of politely asking them to stop by the station to sort this out? Is it wrong for them to then try and get the couple who caused all of this to pay the taxpayers back for the cops' time?

At what point is it ok to blame the couple?

I just don't understand how people can be so short sighted that they think it's a waste of taxpayer money to involve the law, but don't get that the couple was essentially stealing from taxpayers...
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
TheCatt
Site Admin
Posts: 58739
Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 11:15 pm
Location: Cary, NC

Re: Return Your Books!

Post by TheCatt »

Our library caps fees at $10 per account. My wife and I have paid that several times. But it literally never goes past that. We've gotten much better since our children are no longer sleep-depriving infants.
It's not me, it's someone else.
Leisher
Site Admin
Posts: 71816
Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 9:17 pm
Contact:

Re: Return Your Books!

Post by Leisher »

Tecumseh is a really small town. It's actually really nice too. Very well kept. I drive through it all the time in the summer on the way to and from the lake. I imagine that their budget is small for the library.

I have no issue with them charging full price for a book that isn't returned. I also have no problem with them charging a fee to cover costs of trying to get the book returned. Anything more I would disagree with.
“Activism is a way for useless people to feel important, even if the consequences of their activism are counterproductive for those they claim to be helping and damaging to the fabric of society as a whole.” - Dr Thomas Sowell
GORDON
Site Admin
Posts: 56735
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2004 10:43 pm
Location: DTManistan
Contact:

Re: Return Your Books!

Post by GORDON »

When you hit your max fees, do they suspend your borrowing privileges?
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Malcolm
Posts: 32040
Joined: Fri May 21, 2004 1:04 pm
Location: Minneapolis

Re: Return Your Books!

Post by Malcolm »

Who the fuck reads physical books anymore?
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
TheCatt
Site Admin
Posts: 58739
Joined: Thu May 20, 2004 11:15 pm
Location: Cary, NC

Re: Return Your Books!

Post by TheCatt »

Malcolm wrote:Who the fuck reads physical books anymore?
People.
It's not me, it's someone else.
GORDON
Site Admin
Posts: 56735
Joined: Sun Jun 06, 2004 10:43 pm
Location: DTManistan
Contact:

Re: Return Your Books!

Post by GORDON »

I like buying used hardbacks on amazon for a penny (+$3.99 shipping).
"Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid."
Post Reply