I love libraries. I have had a library card to every library in every city I have ever lived in. I can count the number of library fines I have had my entire life on two fingers. I check out books and dvds, and always return my items on time. If I wasn't finished reading, or watching, the item I checked out, I would just renew it until I was ready to return it. I pride myself in being punctual with the items I borrow.
The Price City Library stinks! It is a terrible library (well, for books, anyways. They have a great Toddler Story Time, and I am grateful for that). I went to the library within a day or two moving here, and was sorely disappointed. I had just moved from Washington County, Utah, and I had access to five different libraries within the county. I could get anything I wanted. I would check out new release DVD's from the library in southern Utah. My library in Price still uses VHS. I haven't owned a VCR in years! Does anyone still own a VHS machine?
Usually, if I want to read a good book, I have to request it through interlibrary loan. Our library seems to borrow a lot of books for the libraries in Utah County. I recently borrowed the book, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and found myself with little time to read it. Even though I liked the book, it was slow going because I found myself too busy. They only gave me two weeks to borrow the book (in my honest opinion, it should be at least one month on loan), and the two weeks wizzed by and I wasn't even a quarter of the way through the 300+ page book. I called the library to see what my options were, and the woman who answered the phone said:
"I will deny this later, but I suggest you keep the book and just pay the fines of 10 cents a day after you return the book".
I agreed with that suggestion and kept the book. Almost a month later, I finally finished the book. (I recommend it to my readers, by the way). I returned the book on Monday, and told the librarian that I wanted to pay my associated fees. I was told I had a fee of $1.70. Great. I paid it and was on my way. Even though I was disappointed to have to pay another library fine.
On Tuesday, I received a letter in the mail from the Price City Library. Tucked in the envelope was a letter from the city attorney (a copied letter the library sends) stating that I had an item that was presumed lost and that I owed the library payment for the unreturned item.
My payment for the unreturned book, fines and fees totaled in the amount of:
$53.40
WHAT? Yes. They wanted fifty dollars for payment to replace a book you can purchase online for $6. They also wanted $1.70 in fines, and a past fine of $1.70.
My husband freaked when he saw the letter. I told him I returned the book and paid my minimal dues. He requested that I contact the library and make sure I am all cleared up and that we don't owe another $50+. He really didn't want to be sent to collections for a library fine. I was laughing about it. The funny thing is, I got this letter on April 1, and I totally thought it was an April Fool's joke.
Speaking of April Fools, did anyone get a prank played on them? Did you play a prank on someone else? Share the stories.
5 comments:
I was so excited when we bought our house because it was right across the street from the library. I was excited, that is, until I actually went into the library. It is very small and does not have a very good selection. Every week we drive out to the library by our old place (It is only about 20 minutes away)because it is such a better library. I do take my kids for story time across the street but most of our books and dvds come from the other library.
They are building a library in Washington now and I'm very excited about it. We will be able to walk there when it is finished. We don't have a VCR or a cassette tape player. I always get frustrated when they have more books on tape than CD. Funny story though.
That sounds like something our library would do. We have a huge library system but it still stinks. They lose books we return all the time so now I make them check them in while I'm watching and I get a return receipt. They hate me!
One time the library lost some music tapes I returned and billed me over $150 for them!!! I never paid it because I knew I had returned them. They sent me to collections but I still never paid it. A YEAR later they sent me a letter saying they found the tapes. I was so mad!!!
I got one of those letters too! I returned the book and everything was fine, but they wanted me to pay thirty something dollars for a book that was 12 years old and probably hadn't been checked out in about as long. I think my high school library had about as much selection as Price's does. Let's just say that Amazon.com has become one of my best friends.
I won't bother asking how your library compares to the one here lol. After living in Salt Lake for three and a half years and being able to go to the huge library down town, there'd have to be something pretty big to get me excited again. I enjoyed the story though. I wish I could have seen Austin's reaction!
Oh, and just for the record, we have a vhs/dvd combo AND a cassette player. Pretty soon we'll all have to switch dvd players to the high def. or..blue ray...stuff. =p
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