Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008...8:20 am
county budget cuts hit home
Well, THAT didn’t take long.
Our lovely Kitsap county library system cut back on everything at the beginning of this year. Hours are shorter, and get this, they now charge late fees if you don’t return a book by some arbitrary date spewed out by, of all things, a computer. (2001 was RIGHT! Uh, computers, taking over, right here.)
I think they call it a “due date.” Whatever.
One thing I could honestly say I liked about this island, besides the lack of smog, signal lights and ax murderers, was that I could pretty much return a book any dang time I wanted. So long as it was not too late, give or take eight months. Weeks late, they’d let you renew (or do it for you) while you hunt for that Hello Kitty book that disappeared after the road trip two months earlier.
Be sure to check behind the couch, they’d offer helpfully.
Now, we got a regular Stalin behind the counter. They look all nice and friendly, but don’t be fooled.
Just a few weeks into the new Regime, and I owe them the Big Coin.
A quarter, to be exact.
Oh, sure, they email you about upcoming due dates as part of their new computer system (hey, wait a minute, we paid for this Regime??).
But really, who reads emails anymore? It’s not like they send any coupon codes for Old Navy with them.
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6 Comments
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:14 am
These people must be stopped! Stopped I say. I’m glad you brought this travesty to the internet’s attention.
January 22nd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Wow! I didn’t realize there was a library anywhere that did NOT charge late return fees! One good thing in our city is that you can call in to renew a book. We have never been notified when a book is due, so it’s up to the borrower to remember. (They make more off the books that way!)
Welcome to big city library life! And, by the way, at some point you may as well buy the book — or use another city’s library, or use someone else’s card.
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
yes, back to the real world, I guess….but they shouldn’t train you one way, only to get you later!
all parents know nothing actually happens on a due date!
January 22nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
They’ve got me so nervous about their late fees that I have reminders posted all over my freakin’ house. I have my “due books” listed in my planner (which I rarely use, so not much help there), an electronic sticky pad on my email reminding me when things are due, notes on my big wall calender saying “RETURN BOOKS!” . . .
Deep breath.
The problem is that we average about 20-30 books checked out at any given time (sometimes up to 50+). Hey, we’re homeschoolers; we can’t help ourselves. But when you calculate out each of those books at .25 per day PER BOOK, I’m risking a pretty hefty fee if I’m late.
I need a Netflix for books.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Ha! Our local library instituted a policy of forcing everyone who wants check-out privileges to sign a statement saying you are aware that if you keep a book past the due date, you have committed theft! I never went back.
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Brooke, I totally feel for you! What a nightmare! “Netflix for books” — you are onto something! Especially for homeschoolers!
CS, that contract is amazing. I think I’ll draft one for Kid now that she can write her name…..
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