Monday, June 22, 2009

Overdue Library Books

I was quite impressed that a two-week amnesty period actually got people to return all these library books. I would have thought laziness was a much bigger factor than racking up fees, especially since the average fee due per book was less than $2.

The San Francisco Public Library received back nearly 30,000 overdue books during a two-week amnesty period last month, the library announced Thursday.

The library estimated the total value of the 29,228 returned books at $730,000.

One of the oldest books returned was a 1947 copy of George Bernard Shaw's "Man and Superman." It had a due date of Jan. 29, 1964 and was borrowed from the Presidio Branch Library.

The returnees saved themselves a total of $55,165 in overdue fees, the library reported. Along with the returned books, they were also asked to submit "excuses" for their lateness.

One apologetic library patron, known only as "Antonio," blamed his tardiness on a two-month abduction by aliens, the library said.


Read more here.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Funny post! I live in SF and didn't visit the library for 10+ years because of a lost book. I was told by a librarian about 3 years ago that any book lost or not returned with a fine is excused for minors. I think I was 12 when I checked out the book.

Mel said...

I have a $15.00 fine I haven't paid even though every time I go BN or Borders I spend abouy $50. Maybe its time I go back to the Free Bookstore and get that taken care of.

Anonymous said...

SF library has books to lend out?? When I lived there, not many books to be had at all. That started my very expensive book buying habit that took me years to get over.

I'm always late with my books (in a different city). I think of it as my way of supporting the library system.

bethh said...

I used to work in a public library, and amnesty periods work really well. A lot of the problem is that the borrower is embarrassed/ashamed that they've been "bad" - so they avoid returning the item and clearing the slate. Of course for the people working there, overdues are super common and nothing to be embarrassed about - plus the money usually benefits the library.

My former library also did a food drive once per year, where patrons could get get $1 taken off their overdues for each donated canned/boxed item. That was also hugely successful.

Real Estate Postcards said...

People choose not to return a book that is overdue, because they want to save themselves from the embarrassment brought about by their "laziness".

"My former library also did a food drive once per year, where patrons could get get $1 taken off their overdues for each donated canned/boxed item. That was also hugely successful.

Other libraries should give this one a try.

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