[Publib] "stolen" library books

[Natalie Marshall]

If they were usually actually stolen, I might feel that way too, but
honestly, in four cases out of five here, the patron starts backtracking
immediately, changes their story, comes up with some other excuse for why
the books are gone, etc. They're almost always lying.

I don't ask for a police report in a mean way, I just tell them the truth
according to our policy: that we'll certainly forgive the fines, but we need
to see proof of theft of the vehicle. We're willing to work with a patron
who's in genuine need, but we're not going to be taken for a ride to the
tune of several hundred dollars multiple times every year. We owe THAT to
our taxpayers as well.


On 1/17/08, Elizabeth Rogers <rogers at cefls.org> wrote:
>
> I'm really surprised at the tone of these responses.  It would never
> occur to me to ask for a police report, and I wouldn't think it would do
> much for public relations. Whenever a patron of ours has ANY sort of
> mishap, disaster, etc., we want library books to be the last thing they
> worry about.  We want them to think of libraries as places where they're
> welcome and not punished for things they have no control over.  If the
> patron's house burns down, do you require a sworn statement from a
> fireman?  I see having your car stolen as a traumatic event, and
> demanding to see a police report compounds the trauma by suggesting that
> the patron is dishonest.   This doesn't mean we don't take the financial
> support of our taxpayers seriously, it just means we take our patrons'
> needs seriously as well.  After all--they're taxpayers too, for the most
> part.
>
> Elizabeth Rogers
> CEF Library System
> 33 Oak Street
> Plattsburgh, NY  12901
>
>
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-- 
Natalie Marshall
Public Services Librarian
Flint River Regional Library System
Griffin, GA

(All opinions and views are mine and not my employer's, etc etc.)
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