Library inefficency
Let me start off by saying all the events that I am about to describe to you are my own personal fault. I did not take my book back to the library on time, ergo the drama
A lot of you know I have been pretty sick lately, I had a library book here for a while, maybe 3 weeks past its due date. I went to take it back today, man up and pay the fine, as it was my fault, and buy a spiffy Friends of the Library canvas tote. I go into the line to wait to speak to a Librarian, ashamed of my debacle with this title, when a line administrator comes up to me and asks me why I am in line. I said I had a late book, I needed to return it and pay my fine. I avert my eyes to the floor and maintain my guilty stance, while she explains to me if I want to pay with my debit card I can use the automated self check out system, and I can put the book on the belt like when normally returning my other books. I am slightly relieved by this, having only to use the automated system for my crime. I put the book on the conveyer with a sense of immense relief and head off to the kids area to get some titles for my five year old. I take our loot to the self check out where the computer says my card has been deactivated. So I go back into the long line, avoid the line administrator and get to a librarian and explain I had a late book and my card is not working. She asks me where is my book, and I told her I put it on the conveyer. She immediately launches into how I should have came to her first, now she doesn’t know what to do as the book hasn’t been checked back in and there is no way she can find it. I told her I tried to do just that but was blocked by the line administrator. She lets me check the books out and tells me to come tomorrow and pay the fine, I buy my bag and I leave thinking, okay so I just come back and pay my fine, which I tried to do online before going to the library today but the site seems to be down. I come home and check my mail and have a letter in my box stating I have 30 days to pay $30.00 for the book in question. Why was this option not available to the librarian who looked into my account and even overided the system for me to check out books today? I guess my letter and I will be going back tomorrow to try to sort this out. In the end all I really want to do is just pay whatever the cost is and get on with my library life. Do you have problems at your library, or does yours have a rocking system to avoid these problems?
By: Laura @ I'm Booking It
I’m sorry you had such a tough experience! I admit, I have a library phobia. I’m always certain that something like that is going to happen to me :-(.
By: Pam
I really just want to resolve the problem that I myself created. i take full responsibility for the lateness of the material, but you would think there is a way to resolve it, especially when I get home to that letter. The supervisior was even stumped on how to proceed.
By: heidenkind
I think the root of this problem was the line administrator, who clearly did not know what he/she was talking about.
My library lets me check out books even if I have a huge fine, so I’ve never had this problem. The problem I usually have with my library is that I put a book on hold that is in their catalog, and the book disappears. Like the very next day. :( Oh, and now they’ve started a new program where you can’t put “high demand” books on hold, and you can only check them out for a week! That sounds like a terrible idea, imo.
By: Pam
I had a problem a while back where I had Hunger Games on hold, the email telling me my hold was ready didn’t come, but the one telling me they sent it to the next person did. Why not be able to put popular books on hold that makes no sense.
By: WordLily
Wow, that’s irritating. Clearly someone didn’t know what he/she was doing.
By: Pam
No no I don’t think that’s your fault. It sounds like they’re operating technology that makes it hard. People forget library books. That’s not an issue. Clearly running machinery to deal with a human problem is!
By: SuziQoregon
I’ve never had such a problem. I agree that the line administrator might need to go back to line administrator school.
I love both of my libraries!!
By: Pam
I have no clue why they even have a line administrator I have never seen the line over 2 people long haha.
By: lilly
I have to say that it’s just awful that your library seems in such a disorder. I have no complaints about mine and now that I know you have to pay $1 a day fine I actually love my library. I only pay $0.10 fine a day. Granted y library is small but I know all the librarians, the atmosphere is friendly and personable and they always have time to talk to me and solve any issues. And even though the library is small I just use the interlibrary system where I can order a book from any library in the county, pick it up at my local library and even if the fines differ i still only pay 10 cents if I’m late.
I am sorry you had to go through such a hassle. I always thought that libraries shouldn’t be so difficult to get your business taken care of.
By: Sarah
Since I work in a library, I thought I’d chime in. I’ve never heard of a line admin.-that just seems silly! Although there are times I wish someone would stand next the long long lines we get and tell people while waiting in line to get their card out-it can be annoying when there’s a long line and you’re waiting for the person to find their card. But I digress…
I’m sorry that the people you dealt with weren’t super nice. If I were you, and I know that you have a very good reason for not turning your book in late, I would ask to speak to the circulation manager and explain that you have been sick and that’s why your book was late. At my library, when people have been sick and we know about it, we waive their fines. If you’re in the hospital, we can’t expect you to return your books! But that’s just how my library works-not sure about yours.
We allow anyone with under $10 to check out and we can see in our system how much they owe, so if you got a letter, the circulation person should have seen the amount you owed.
I hope it gets resolved and you get a super nice person next time!!
By: susan
I use the library a lot and sometimes I have too many books with different due dates and I rack up fines. Often they will wave them for me and I appreciate it. Other times, I pay without any discussion. Recently I lost a book. I was horrified. I don’t know how I lost the book. They told me to renew it until I can’t anymore and hopefully it will turn up. If not, I’ll pay for the book. My library is very responsive to my requests even when I’m at fault.
Sorry to hear about your woes.
And regarding blog designs and functionality, I love your site.
By: MelissaW
$30.00 – for only three weeks? Also, boo to to the “administrator” who made a rather simple situation much, much more complicated. She should have just thanked you for taking the time to pay your late fee and been done with it.
BTW, I have a BINGO award for you: http://balletbookworm.blogspot.com/2009/08/b-i-n-g-o-award.html
:)
By: J.T. Oldfield
hey Pam, I gave you an award:
http://bibliofreakblog.com/memes/awards-pertaining-bbaw/
By: Kelly
Oh man, that sucks! I’ve had a similar comedy of errors when trying to find a book they had on hold for me according to the system, but it wasn’t on the hold shelf.