I'm an idiot

[imoan]

For Christmas, my wonderful MIL paid off my library fines ($100+). I hadn't been allowed at the library for a few years before that. So beginning in January, the library welcomed me back with open arms.

I borrowed three books in April (The Dante Club, The Crucible and Watership Down). Yup... They're still sitting in my car. The Dante Club and Watership Down show that I owe the full retail price + $5 (so around $30-33). However, if I returned them tomorrow (which I plan to, I don't have to be at work til 11am tomorrow), the total amount per book would not exceed $5. There is no indication on their website that, after a certain amount of time with no return, they charge the full price. It only said if the book is lost... it's full retail + $5.

Do you think I'll owe $67 when I bring the books back tomorrow?!

I hate myself. This is EXACTLY why the Kindle is best for me. I apparently can't be trusted with a library card.

[Deleted]

If you return the book, you only pay the fines.

[sterl724]

I believe habbs is right.

[imoan]

Thanks guys! That feels much better. I'm determined to bring them back tomorrow before work and just pay off these fines and be done with it. I can't imagine having to tell my MIL that I racked the fines up again. She's awesome, would think it's just so adorable and endearing and would just pay them off again... but I can't do that again.

[msmerymac]

Yeah, I asked the library this once. Because if I had to pay the retail cost, even if I returned it, I would just keep the book, right? They said if I returned it, they'd take that charge off.

[imoan]

Jun 5, 2012 16:36:20 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Yeah, I asked the library this once. Because if I had to pay the retail cost, even if I returned it, I would just keep the book, right? They said if I returned it, they'd take that charge off.

Phew! Thank you!

[PinkSquirrel]

It's the same at every library I've ever been to. As long as you return it they just charge late fees and usually they max out late fees at a certain amount. I only do ok with library books now because I can renew them online and I'm within walking distance. I still owe the large library near my parents house the Rats of NIHM and a few other books I borrowed when I was like 8. I went back when I was around 20 and tried to take out a book and they were like, "You owe ridiculous amounts of money for books you borrowed as a kid." Needless to say I was like wait, what, this is why 8 year olds should not have library cards because they can not be trusted to not screw their 20 year old selves over.

[duckduck]

Yep. I handle the fines at our library, and I always waive the replacement and processing fee if the patron can return the book in good condition.

[imoan]

I just got back from returning the books and paying my fine. I did the math and I owed something like $26.50 so I hit up the ATM before and took out two $20 bills. When I got there, the librarian was just like "Eh, give me $10". WAHOO for getting to keep my own money!

I finished Northanger Abbey last night and the next book in my challenge is Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. Of course my crappy resident library didn't have it so I'll be hitting up the library in the town I work in during lunch.

[secretlyevil]

you need to set reminders in your phone but this is one reason I stopped using the library, even though I am a huge library advocate. They never have the books I want or the wait list is huge and I can never read them in the allocated time and you can only renew so many times. Then there are the hours - so inconvenient over all.

[nova726]

Can you register your email with them? With my library system I registered online and they send me reminders almost a week before my books are due, this gives me plenty of time to return or renew.

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