overdue fine 3 days, $30.00 (rant)

[girlspell]

In all the time I've used our public library, i have never been one day late. Ever. Except for today. I borrowed 4 DVDs. They were actually a set, a Miss Marple DVD set from the TV shows. Except the library broke up the set and lent it to me as 4 individual items. They were 3 days late. I had forgotten to renew them. The fine was $30.00.

Comments

[elfslut]

Holy hell just for 4 DVDs?

[girlspell]

Yes. I think it's $2.80 each per day for DVDs. I'm still pretty upset. I called library back and protested. I spoke to the circulation manage and she finally agreed to waive the $15.00 additonal money I would have to pay. It just upset me so much. I'm angry I had to fork over $15.00. I gave them that because it was all the money I had on me at the time.

[girlspell]

Pretty bad. It's absurd. I could have purchased the whole set for less money then that.

[stmargarets]

I think you should e-mail the director or the library board or somebody and mention that those kinds of fines are a hardship for most people in this economic climate. You gave the DVDs back - no one was waiting for them, I'm sure. Since when is the library a for-profit enterprise? Fines are there to encourage people not to keep the property out too long - but as a tax payer, you have a stake in those DVDs. I think you should get all of the money back *and* the library should have another look at their policies.

[girlspell]

When times are tough, all public places are for profit. I was so upset when I got home. My husband could nto believe they charged me that. Then felt badly and gave me $50.00 (for tomorrow at the art festival) I don't know if I want to take it.

[selvatica]

Nightmare! but, take the money and console yourself :)

[girlspell]

I decided to take it (at one point, I gave it back to him) So I'll go to the festival and buy birthday gifts. I always do that, because the gifts are unique. I buy them one full swoop. Gifts for my brother, sisters, co-workers, etc.

I still owe them (the library) another $15.00 :(

[sanya4]

The common practice in our public libraries is that they don't charge you anything when you want to borrow a DVD, but if you are late returning it then you have to pay a fine. And like in your case, they always break the sets and lend them as individual items. If your situation happened to me in my public library, the late fine would amount to about 15$. And there would be absolutely no room for protest. I wouldn't be allowed to borrow or use anything from the library until all my fines were payed -- no books, no DVDs or CDs, public computers, nothing. :(

[girlspell]

Same here. I have to pay the next installment of $15.00 before I can borrow anything again.

I am so annoyed, I could stomp on them! LOL...