If you have not heard about this yet,,, read the following article...Woman Arrested For Failing To Return Library Books
What I do not get is the bias associated with these types of stories. It is almost like the general public thinks that getting arrested for stealing public goods is outrageous and ridiculous. Why would you not get arrested for stealing library books? You get arrested for stealing from a store don’t you? If you borrow your neighbors car for a month too long, you will also get arrested. So what makes library books different? You might say “Because Minks you numbskull, they are cheap!”. What difference does that make? Stealing is stealing. You do not hear about Blockbuster or Netflix (other places you can ‘borrow’ items) arresting people because they simply charge your credit card for the indefinitely borrowed item(s). In fact, no place else is there such a setup where you can borrow a significant amount of valuable merchandise with no security deposit what-so-ever.
Lets looks at some different items and the ramifications from not paying them….
1) Store – Arrested (Shoplifting)
2) Utility Bills – Utilities cut off
3) Auto (and numerous other goods) – Repossession
4) House – Foreclosure
5) Apartment – Eviction
6) Credit Cards – Bankruptcy (and about 4 billion calls a day from creditors)
7) Uncle – Punched in nose
That leaves us with library books….
Library – Fines (enforceable by arrest)
Lets compare the above options and see if any would work for library books…
Option 1 = Arrest. What we have now. Seems to work, but some think too extreme
Option 2 = Cut off service. We can, and do, cut off service. But, unlike cable or electricity, the library is a service that can be sacrificed for a very long time. Besides, the library down the street will let me check out books no problemo.
Option 3 = Repossession. Yea, if they cannot find the books, like we would be able to.
Option 4 = Foreclosure. Not applicable here in any way that I can see.
Option 5 = Evictions. Kick them out of the library service area. And you thought arrest was bad.
Option 6 = Bankruptcy. Actually, bankruptcy does work, at least in my library. But few actually do it.
Option 7= Physical Abuse. Uncle Vinnie Style. While I kinda like this one, I am fairly certain it will not float.
So, really, what else are you gonna do other then arrest them? I have heard some say “just chalk it up to the cost of doing business and don’t worry about it”. Exsqueeze me?? Personally I think that stealing from a library is a pretty reprehensible act. You are actually stealing from many people in one clean swoop. I am not willing to let such deeds just go like they are not big deal.
Ok,, back to the article for a second. Look how many times the city tried to contact her. 9. Nine! 6 letters, 2 phone calls, and a citation! This is a person that just really did not care what-so-ever about returning anything to the library. The only way you were going to get this person to return items was to force her. They did. She paid the $170 fine.
I think libraries should be able to rate patrons kinda like credit card companies rate people. When you first get a card, you are a “Bronze Member” and you can check out three items at a time. After you check out and return 100 items, you are now a “Silver Member” and can check out 10 items at a time. After you check out another,,,, oh,, say,,, 250 items, you are now a “Gold Member” and can have unlimited checkouts. Now, with a valid credit card or deposit, you can buy your way right to “Gold Member” status. But, that is actually against
In the mean time,,
Arrest Them All, Let the Law Sort Them Out.
