I returned a few books to the library today and picked up two items they had on hold for me and was told I had $6 in overdue fines. I was floored because I never return items late.
Turns out it was their error (of course), but even though the woman checking me out believed me without question and was ready to just wipe my account clean, this other know-it-all wanted to argue with me about it.
On Thursday Nov 3rd we had checked out two books on their “Hot Pick” list which have a less than the standard three week loan period and cannot be renewed. The book I chose was a 7-day loan and Joe’s was a 14-day. We actually returned both books today, only 6 days later, because we’ve been too busy to even look at them.
For whatever reason, they were coded in the system as being due on Nov 6th, only three days after we checked them out. On top of that, instead of the regular 50 cents a day fine, each was coming up as $1 per day, hence the $6 in overdue fines.
I don’t really care that they made a mistake, I just didn’t appreciate how the one woman was kinda snippy and treated me like I was trying to get out of fines I owed when the due date was clearly put into the system wrong. I made sure to point that out, though, and even made them grab both books from the shelves to show them the sticker on back with the the loan period on it. It irritated me just a bit after spending $5 just to use their fax machine.
I love libraries but almost never rent books because I’m ALWAYS late returning them. However, we have a brand new library really, really close to the new house and from what I can see online they’re the only library anywhere in the Denver area that has the books I want in stock. The population is still so low out here that I can rent all the new ones without waiting! I might have to check it out… a couple dollars fine is still better than paying $20+ for a brand new book I’ll read once.