Public Library Hires Collection Agency For Overdue Books

[matcom]

<snip>

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Knox County Public Library System is sending a message to patrons with overdue books and fees by hiring a private collection agency to help track down offenders -- nicely.

"We don't want to alienate anyone," library spokeswoman Mary Pom Claiborne said. "It's not Guido the loan shark -- we're not going to break your legs over this."

The Jeffersonville, Ind.-based company, Unique Management Services Inc., specializes in library collections, employing a respectful, courteous approach with an emphasis on the magic word please.

Knox County Library will hand over the accounts of 180 users whose materials are 45 days or more overdue, representing an estimated $10,000 to $15,000 worth of books, DVDs and audio materials, Claiborne said.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2005/03/12/public_library_hires_collection_agency/

[ffm172]

1. to tell the truth I can understand them

that is a lot of money on overdue charges all together. Esp. for libraries.

[BlondieK143]

2. My hometown finally makes the MATCOM news.

Over library books. Go figure. :shrug:

[izzie]

3. It is a big problem for these people as they have little money

I pay to join a library near where I live as the local is so small I think I have more books, even if it is free. They usually do not get much in taxes either. Every one thinks they can get the library to take less money. I just love all those books.

[nuxvomica]

4. They just need their own Lt. Bookman

"Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y'know that little stamp, the one that says 'New York Public Library'? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before: Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. What's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers? Doesn't HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped! Or: maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld; maybe that's how y'get your kicks. You and your good-time buddies. Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time is over. Y'got seven days, Seinfeld. That is one week!"

[Agnomen]

5. My overdue fines are figured into library budget

If I start returning books on time, two branch libraries will have to close, and hours will be severely cut back in three others.

[ffm172]

6. that bad?

lol ... at least you bring them back.

[blondeatlast]

8. Hell, rack 'em up to the ceiling--JUST BRING THEM BACK, DAMMIT! nt

[ffm172]

11. hey, I am a librarian!!

I am on your side ... lol

[blondeatlast]

13. Sorry, I should've responded to the post above.

I'm a library assitant in the Collection Development office of Phoenix Public.

My biggest task is trying to replace lost items. When I think about how much it costs for us to try to track them, replace them, and then the labor involved, it makes my blood boil. And of course, many go out of print.

And of course, we have a hiring freeze now and layoffs are looming.

I only drink green tea now--no caffeine on the job for me!

[Agnomen]

12. I bring them back - but late n/t

[blondeatlast]

14. Your friendly DU library assistant thanks you from the bottom of her

heart!

:loveya:

[ffm172]

15. maybe those words would help our late customers

Who carries away this book, those should meet thousand lashes and paralysis and leprosy in addition! (Joseph Viktor v. Scheffel "Ekkehard")

[intrepid_wanderer]

9. well...

at least you pay your late fees!!! :)

:bounce: libraries rock! :bounce:

let's hope we don't see "Library Late-Fee Reform" on any congressional/house agenda!!!!!


How about "Faith-based Late Fee Collection??" ugh.

[politicat]

18. You and me, both.... but my library has been doing this for a couple years

If you have more than $50 in fines (and I have had, once) they'll send it to collections.

[blondeatlast]

7. I've been negotiating with a guy who calls himself "Shade," myself, for

the library I work for. Says he thinks library thieves are scum, so he'll work cheap.

I swear, he said it--not me. :evilgrin:

We lose tens of thousands of items every year; they get checked out and never returned. Lots of in-house theft of A/V materials too.

Seriously, if people knew how much of their civic taxes went to replacing, ahem, "lost" library material, they would choke. I'll leave it at that.

But, ahem, I'm not supposed to talk about it. So you didn't hear it from me...

[skygazer]

20. ~Hanging head in shame and contrition~

My ex husband used to say that my mug shot was hanging in every library in the country. I ALWAYS return books but I'm chronically late. My problem is I tend to check out 10 or 12 books at a time - they all look interesting but I don't yet know if they will be so I get a large selection to wade through. Then I go back in a couple of days and get more because libraries are among my favorite places.

I currently have checkout privileges at three different libraries which means I have roughly 25 or 30 library books kicking around at a given time. I'm just a bibliophile (is there a 12 step program for that?)

When I moved to CA, I ended up inadvertantly packing five or six books from the local library in VT. Since I had limited space in my first apartment, they didn't get unpacked and discovered for over two years. I felt terrible - luckily the people at the library were really sweet. I called them and explained and told them I'd send the books - they didn't charge me anything (I would have been happy to pay a fine) - just wanted the books back.

But I always return them and pay my fines and I donate books and contribute to fund drives! Please don't hate me. :cry:

[underpants]

10. What's my problem? Punks like you, that's my problem

JERRY: Oh, I'm glad you're here, so we can get this all straightened out. Would you like a cup of tea?
BOOKMAN: You got any coffee?
JERRY: Coffee?
BOOKMAN: Yeah. Coffee.
JERRY: No, I don't drink coffee.
BOOKMAN: Yeah, you don't drink coffee? How about instant coffee?
JERRY: No, I don't have--
BOOKMAN: You don't have any instant coffee?
JERRY: Well, I don't normally--
BOOKMAN: Who doesn't have instant coffee?
JERRY: I don't.
BOOKMAN: You buy a jar of Folger's Crystals, you put it in the cupboard, you forget about it. Then later on when you need it, it's there. It lasts forever. It's freeze-dried. Freeze-dried Crystals.



( Jerry writes out a check for the never-returned Tropic of Cancer and hands it to Bookman)

JERRY: Anyway, I hope there's no hard feelings.
BOOKMAN: Hard feelings? What do you know about hard feelings? Y'ever have a man die in your arms? Y'ever kill somebody?
JERRY: What is your problem?
BOOKMAN: What's my problem? Punks like you, that's my problem. And you better not screw up again Seinfeld, because if you do, I'll be all over you like a pitbull on a poodle.

http://www.stanthecaddy.com/sounds-mr-bookman.html

[hlthe2b]

16. No common sense applied: I was reported for a $1.00 late charge!

I had moved, dropped off all books, except one at the library and the remaining one in their across-town dropbox on my way out of town. Unfortunately, the latter--which apparently was being phased out-- wasn't emptied until a month later. I was never notified of anything owing.

Almost lost a loan over a $1.00 late charge 4 years later! So, now tell me this makes sense?

[blondeatlast]

17. Did you explain what happened? They definitely should have

forgiven it at least this time. We are very forgiving at my library, but we keep records, too. We know who abuses the system.

You should have been excused from that, indeed--but get this:

There are adults who get their children library cards. Good idea, obviously. Then they check out dozens of movies, CDs, and books on the KID'S cards. When the kid reaches first grade, they are entitled to get a very special library card--that these kids aren't able to get because their parents cheated them out of it. Their classmates get the cards, but they don't. We have to be firm about it as it gives the parents an incentive to come in and clean the mess up--but hundreds of them never do. We are talking hundreds of dollars in fees (a lost library item costs far more than simply the money to replace it).

You may be fuming over this, but if you had any idea how much "lost" materials cost your public libraries, you'd be angry at the scofflaws, too. Mistakes happen, but there is no way some of this is a mere mistake.

We have seen our items for sale at swap meets--HUNDREDS of them.

Sorry about your misfortune, but I see it from the other side, as I explained earlier. Multiply your sincere mistake with hundreds or thousands of others, and then with deliberate theft and fraud, and then with the constant cutbacks in our budgets (mine is facing EXTENSIVE layoffs) and maybe you can see why I'm upset, too.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

19. I hear you

I work in an academic library now, but spent 3 years as a volunteer at the local public library, one of the largest systems in the U.S. I would absolutely cringe when parents would come in getting separate cards for all of their children. There was no way they'd be able to track all of the books (our limit was 50 items per card) for each child.

My favorite lost item excuse, for a children's book that was actually returned, was that the child had put it on the shelves with her own books. I had to bite my tongue not to ask "So, your child uses spine labels with cutter numbers too?"

[blondeatlast]

23. Oooh... I've had to bite my tongue on that one, too!

I did my time as a page and a clerk--I've heard 'em all!

[politicat]

21. Well aware, BAL....

I'm on the Friends of the Library.... and I'm personally pleased that we go after our less responsible (including me) patrons.

I will admit that my problem was somewhat honest - I got sick just as I was doing research for a major paper, so I had a lot of books at once. It can be painful, admittedly.

Last year's fundraising went almost entirely to replacing lost materials; the state and city budget went to new materials, and still we didn't come out even.

Pcat

[hlthe2b]

29. yes, I did, but it was 4 years later, I was in the middle of applying for

a mortgage and had to get this off my credit before the loan would go through at the promised interest rate. So, $20 worth of long distance phone calls, 2 days off work, and about another $30 for faxes, copies, and certified mailings, I finally got this $1 snafu taken care of. Yes, the library folks were nice, but it doesn't change the fact that someone used no common sense in deciding to turn over $1 owing for late charges (which I actually did NOT owe) to a collection agency.

Yes, I DO support my libraries, the staff, and their need to crack down on loss/theft. I'm not arguing that AT ALL. Just begging for a little common sense, that's all.

[amazona]

26. i've encountered mistakes too

One time in the 70s a collection agency did send me a nasty-gram about overdue library books. Problem was...the books had long since been returned.

I went to the branch and found the books on the shelf, and they got it fixed, but sheesh. Before you start making threats on people's credit, get your facts straight.

At least 2 or 3 times over the years I've gotten more overdue notices for books the library already had back but no more collection agency hard-ball.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[RetroLounge]

22. Bah! Libraries are for those Liberal Elites

All I need is my Soldier of Fortune and Maxim...

(Sarcasm off....)

RL

[blondeatlast]

24. Weirdest thing I've ever seen-- I have met a near-Freeper librarian.

The experience was as confusing as you can imagine.

I don't mean just RW, I mean just this side of Freeper Madness.

[RetroLounge]

27. That is weird...

Could (s)he even read?

RL

[Southpaw Bookworm]

30. Shush -- for the conservative librarian

:puke:

http://www.shush.ws/

[trof]

25. Our library has a couple of muscle guys on the staff.

Benny-the-bat and Big Tony.
These two show up at your front door you really realy wish you'd gotten that copy of David Copperfield back on time.

[Kat45]

28. Well! I'm offended by her remarks.

"Guido the loan shark" sure sounds like she's implying something about Italian-Americans. Hmmmph!