Great. So now I'm in trouble with the local library

[skygazer]

I went online today to check my account and noticed they still show me as having a book checked out that I returned last week. And now it's overdue.

So I dutifully checked all around my house and car but I'm sure it got returned with the others. I just dropped them all in the slot - never going to do that again.

Went to the library and explained the situation. Now, while I realize the library wants their book, and the computer shows I have it, I've been going to that place about twice a week for 7 years, I've never had a problem and if I was going to steal a book, I'd find a better way than by checking it out and just never returning it. In other words, it would be nice if they treated me like I just might be telling the truth.

Instead, the librarian was extremely huffy with me and explained that I "must" have it because evidently, they don't make mistakes. :banghead:

edited to add - yes, thank you all - I checked the shelf as soon as I got there and the librarian did, too. I can only assume that someone pulled it straight out of the bin and walked out with it.

[Miss_Strawberry]

1. Did you check the shelf?

Sometimes we'd accidently put them back without checking them back in. It is so easy to let one slip by!

[skygazer]

4. I did check the shelf as soon as I walked in

And the librarian did, too. To give her credit, she put a notation on my account that said I thought I'd brought it back but she was just really snotty about it all. I've had issues with her before (not an argument or anything - just noticed her nasty attitude) - she acts very superior and suspicious of everyone. And I'm very polite when I deal with people - I work in a service industry so I know what it's like to deal with unpleasant people. ~sigh~

[LeftyMom]

2. Did you check to see if it's out on the shelf?

I've had books get reshelved without getting checked back in before.

[SeattleGirl]

3. Definitely check the shelves.

A few years ago, Blockbuster tried to fine me for not returning a movie. There was only one copy of this particular movie in the store, and I walked over to the shelf and pointed to the movie. That shut the clerk up real fast.

[Zavulon]

5. I doubt it will work, but when I was in your situation I

cordially invited the snotty bitch in my case to sue me and to kiss my ass regardless of how the case turned out. Then I went to the shelf where I found it sitting there, grabbed the book that I "must have" had and gave her constructive advice as to how to store it.

I used to go to that library 2-3 times a week. I haven't been back since, but I did write a scathing letter to her superiors - which, of course, was probably ignored (in any case, I never got a reply).

Telling her to shove the book up her ass was therapeutic, though. I'm just not that nice of a guy when people are snotty to me.

[terrya]

6. That's happened to me.

The folks at the Chicago Public Library are pretty understanding when I explain that I DID return said book. I think that with the sheer number of books, dvds, etc that they deal with, sometimes a few will slip past the computers.

Good luck in resolving your situation with the library. In situations like we've dealt with, I keep thinking of that "Mr. Bookman" character on the "Seinfeld" episode. :-)

[skygazer]

7. I will no doubt end up paying to replace the book

And I don't even really mind that - I get so much use out of the library and I have no problem supporting them or even paying when it's not technically my fault. But I do resent her miserable, superior and snotty attitude.

[terrya]

8. I agree, that's pretty crappy.

If you've made it clear that you DID return it and you obviously will pay for the book if you have to, that woman at your library needed to lose the attitude. That makes an unfortunate situation like the one you're in even worse.

[July]

29. Say what you just said here to her superior.

It's the only way she MIGHT get a clue.

You're a loyal patron, you're even willing to eat the fine, but NO patron (regular, loyal, or not) should be subject to her snarky demeanor. Since you've experienced it before, why not point it out?

Of course, she may be even worse in the future if she learns it was you who complained. On the other hand, she's not doing her job well.

JMO, of course.

[trackfan]

9. Pay for the book, then make restitution to yourself by stealing one

of equal value.:evilgrin:

Just kidding.

[skygazer]

10. Well, I was thinking of gluing all the pages of one together

But only if I could figure out how to get it on her account.

Also kidding. :hi:

[zanne]

11. Watch out for the library police! nt

[skygazer]

12. My ex used to joke that my mug shot was hanging in libraries

all across the country. I do rack up some late fines but I always pay them and I always return the books.

When I first moved to California, I got a letter from the library back in Vermont saying that I had some incredibly overdue books (I'd been here several months). I looked through my boxes and to my horror found the books - I'd inadvertantly packed them. :blush:

So I called the library and they were so cool - they told me they just wanted the books and if I'd send them back, they wouldn't assess any fines or anything (I'd been so embarassed and remorseful, I'd offered to pay full price for all of them and send them back).

I just hate being treated like I purposely did something bad. Talk about petty power plays!

[uppityperson]

13. So, did you check the shelf? Don't forget to check the shelf. What about checking the shelf.

sorry.

Good luck with them. I've had this happen, return a book and they find it in library later. I've also thought I returned 1 and didn't. Fortunately my library people are pretty cool about it.

[skygazer]

14. Ooooh, good idea! I'll check the shelf!

:rofl:

I will certainly give my house another good search. I already searched my car. And as I've said, if I have to pay for it, I don't even care, even if I really did return it. It's just the snotty attitude that irks me.

Oh, well, if all my troubles continue to be so minor, I'll consider myself lucky.

[murielm99]

20. I remember swearing up and down that

I had returned a book. They gave me the benefit of the doubt.

A couple of months later, I found it, behind a bed.

I returned the book very sheepishly. They had already replaced it, so I gave them a donation.

[uppityperson]

32. I have donated extra also, as well as books I bought they don't have.

I figure libraries are a good cause for a few bucks and, no one is perfect.

[Arugula Latte]

15. "Your kind make me sick."

"Let me tell you something, funny boy... You 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 helluva 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... Why's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? 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. What about that kid, sitting down, opening a book right now in a branch of the local library and finding pictures of pee-pees and wee-wees in 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 you get your kicks... You and your goodtime buddies... I've got a flash for you, joy boy. Partytime is over."

[skygazer]

16. And that is exactly how I felt

:rofl:



Oh, the shame! :blush:

[trof]

17. Well, it's a little late for this suggestion, but...

If you are a member of the "Friends of the Library", you'd be amazed at the slack the staff will cut you.

We've belonged for years and the staff is always very helpful and appreciative. I hope they're that way with everyone.

When we rent audio books for a road trip they'll let us keep them for longer than the standard 2 weeks.
"Sure. How long you need 'em. 3 weeks? A month?"
It sure helps to be on the 'inside'.
Sorry your librarian was snippy.
Happily they aren't all that way.
Mine drinks Martinis with me.

[Phentex]

18. Mine showed up but I won't use the drop bin

any longer for this reason. I hope someone returns yours!

[book lady]

19. Was the librarian the Head of Circulation?

If not, I would talk to that person. I have always given a patron the benefit of the doubt when they asked to speak to me :-)

[neweurope]

21. Sorry to hear that.

I'd feel the same you do :hug: I do hope it will turn up!

----------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[kath]

22. At our library system, you can ask them to put a "trace" on the book -

which makes them search the other branch libraries, as well as yours, to see if the book had been returned but not checked back into their computer system. It may be that someone else had already checked the book out again before you got there to check the shelves. Several times I've done this, and I was right - I HAD returned the book. (Another time or two, though, I found the book much later at home :-( )

[Coyote_Bandit]

23. The library here

serves the whole metropolitan area. So a book could show up on a shelf in about 30 different libraries. I don't ever use the book drop because of it. And I always ask whoever checks my book in to verify what if any books remain outstanding.

Same thing happened to me once a long time ago when I was in school. The book was never located. My folks ended up having to pay the library some crazy amount of money (far more than the cover price of the book). I ended up having to all sorts of unusually awful chores. Haven't used a book drop since.

[jobycom]

24. Did you search your car?

I found one under my seat once. Swore I'd returned it.

[Jokerman]

25. We just paid for a book that was returned.

Dropped it in the return box with several others but somehow that one never got checked in. We fought them over it for a few weeks but ended up paying for the damn thing anyway.

I used to work for a video rental store and we would get annoyed by the customers who refused to use the drop box. They would bring the returns in and demand a receipt to make sure they didn't get charged for a video they had returned.

They were right.

[hedgehog]

26. I went through this several times with my local library, snooty librarian and all!.

Every time, I found the book on the shelf.

Then they hassled 8 year old my daughter about a book with the pages falling out! It was clearly worn and the pages were falling out when she brought it home!! My daughter was so embarrassed that she didn't tell me about it until:

They wrote me a letter threatening to revoke my privileges because one of the books came back with a spot of oatmeal on the cover.

So now, we've been going to the bigger and better library in the next town over for 15 years. They loved my kids and watched them grow up and ask about them when I visit.

My daughter had to go back to the local library to look up some records that had been deposited there after a Super fund site was cleaned up. They'd lost the records! She came home and told me that she thought I had more books at home than this library has!

[blondeatlast]

27. Ask them to put a "trace" on it.

In most libraries, that means that your fine will be held until and if the book is found.

Yeah--library police here, but if you knew how many library materials were stolen each year--outright stolen--you might have a bit more respect for those of us on the other side of the counter.

[skygazer]

28. I don't know where you got the idea that I had no respect

I have tons of respect for people who work in and maintain libraries. I love libraries and have patronized them in every town I've ever lived in (and that's about 30 different towns all around the country). I've volunteered in two different libraries.

I even lent my considerable collection of hardcover history books (mostly Civil War history - over 250 books in all) to the small library in my hometown in Vermont for a couple of years. I regularly contribute money to library causes. I've got respect to spare.

All I'm asking for is a little respect in return. I'm in that library at least twice a week. I have NEVER, ever given them any trouble about anything at all. I am careful with the materials I use, I return the items I borrow, I'm polite and appreciative. It's perfectly reasonable to believe that I sincerely felt I'd returned the book - I've never given any reason to think otherwise and this is not a huge library - the people there are familiar with me. Instead, I felt like I was being dismissed with a great cloud of suspicion over my head. It was not a nice feeling.

In fact, I received a call this morning informing me that they'd found the book - it had slipped down beside the bin and was hidden there. All fines have been waived.

Which is good. Happy ending. Had the librarian treated my situation with a little more belief (and respect), she might have found it when I was in yesterday.

[InternalDialogue]

30. You're not alone, skygazer.

Just happened to me too, but I had fortunately (but absentmindedly) taken the receipt from the clerk when I returned my book. I've never just used the book drop and always handed the book to a clerk, so I figured that when they scan it in as returned, it's all good.

Well, my online record showed that book as unreturned, and I dug through my trash and found that receipt. When I took that in to the library and handed it to a librarian and asked her to square my account, it took her about ten minutes and a lot of walking through the returns room to fix the record and tell me I was in the clear. Still, she had a look on her face like I was pulling one over on her.

Computer says the book's out, but the receipt says otherwise. I could tell she wanted to believe the computer was right. But I'll always ask for a return receipt after that.

[skygazer]

31. I plan on doing the same

As I posted just before you, they called today and told me they'd found it tucked beside the bin. I will now bring them to the desk, ask them to check them in and get a receipt. Just to be on the safe side for both parties.

[Gormy Cuss]

33. Grrr. Mistakes happen. Bad attitude, on the other hand, is controllable.

I effing hate my local branch of the library. The bad 'tude is paramount. Only the volunteers have a helpful approach. It's so contrary to my New England library experiences. I do like the Oakland and SF libraries, so it's not as if I'm without a public library locally, but the Contra Costa system is really inferior.