A Library Dilemma: advice requested

In My Humble Opinion
1

My oldest step-daughter, who is 16, is having an issue with the public library in her town. She checked out a book for a school research project, and while she had it, their house burned down, and the book was destroyed in the fire (or subsequent water damage, not sure).

She went to the library and explained what had happened, and the library requested approximately $90 for the book. She doesn’t have that sort of money, nor do her parents. The library has revoked her privileges until she pays. She did, I’m told, provide documentation of the house fire and the extensive damages.

I just heard about this today, and my thoughts were as follows:

  1. They probably think she’s lying, and that she lost the book on the bus or left it in her boyfriend’s car, or whatever, but she did have proof that the book was destroyed in the house fire.

  2. Ninety bucks for a library book? Sure, maybe a law volume from a university, but some high school-ish reference book from a public library?

  3. What is she supposed to do when she needs to do research for her term papers for school, if the public library won’t let her use their resources? High school libraries are scanty, in my experience.

  4. I can understand that the library can’t afford to lose books, and when you check one out, you assume responsibility for it. But are there extenuating circumstances, especially for a young student?

She’s considered asking her mom or her dad to go talk to the library staff with her, but I’m not sure if that will do any good. She’s tried to take care of this on her own, to no avail. I believe she’s been respectful and polite in her dealings with the library staff, because she loves reading more than life itself, and removing her library access is the worst punishment in the world, to her.

I know there are at least a few librarians here, so I’m asking for advice as to what she should do. (Advice from anyone else is welcome, too.)

2

Can the insurance company reimburse her for the book? If you can find a decent replacement copy of the book for less money elsewhere, will the library take that instead of a fee?

3

I don’t think they had renters’ insurance, at the time of the fire.

That’s a good idea, as far as finding a replacement copy of the book. I have no idea what the book was, just that it was for a school project, so I assume it wouldn’t be too difficult to find, for less than $90. I’ll ask her what it was.

4

I think the parents need to get involved. It’s possible the staff is dismissing your step-daughter because she’s just a teenager.

In lieu of money, would it be possible for your step-daughter to work off what she owes for the book by volunteering at the library?

5

Easily - $90 is nothing for a lot of reference books. I could easily go into work Monday and spend $10k on reference books (just in my subject area) if someone would let me spend that much.

She can likely use them within the library and make copies of what she needs. If there’s a college or university in the town, she could use their library - unless someone in her family has a card there or she’s willing to pay for access, she won’t be able to check stuff out, but, again, photocopies (and maybe online databases from within the library) can usually be used, even though she would have to pay for the copies (and maybe for the printing).

It depends upon the library and its policies.

First, I’d say that, yeah, have her mother or father go with her to talk to them. Also, continuity eror’s idea about seeing if insurance will pay the replacement, or finding out the library’s policy on providing replacements for lost books - I had to do this once, while I was getting my master’s. I returned a university book to the public library (oops). And it never turned up - the public library claimed never to have seen it. So I got a copy that was the same edition of the book from Amazon for $16 (this was just a general book, not a reference type book). I had to pay a $20 processing fee as well, but it was far better than the $100 that I’d have been charged if I just paid the library for the book.

If none of this works, try to talk to the library’s branch manager (or a manager of the system). It may be that the people at the desk don’t have a lot of authority to waive rules - if there’s a central branch for the system, have her/her parents go talk to them. Maybe it could be paid in small installments and her account reinstated while payments are ongoing. Or sometimes libraries have openings for pages in the branches. A part time/summer job that would let her pay for the book, spend time in the library and earn some funds beyond the cost of the book?

Or even an offer to barter for the book - X amount of volunteer hours (shelving, cleaning, whatever) in return for the cost of the book.

It all depends on the library though - hopefully it can be worked out, though.

6

Lsura, I was hoping to hear from you and your library experience, here. I guess $90 isn’t out of the ordinary, then. I thought they were out of their minds, asking that much for a used book.

So she’ll still be able to use the library for research, but not check out books? That’s fine, as I’d rather have her hanging around the library rather than the mall.

She’s a pretty independent sort, and she’s been fighting this battle for more than a year on her own, I’ve discovered. A payment plan is certainly a possibility, and I think she would love to work in a library, so perhaps she could work off the fees, and have a little part-time job to boot.

Her father and I live in a different state, so he’s not easily available to go talk to them with her. I don’t know how her mother might handle it, but I do suspect they might take an adult a bit more seriously than a teenager.

7

She or her parents should write a letter to the editor of their local paper describing their situation and how the libary responded. If there is any publicity about this, I’m betting the library backs down.

/Ms Cyros

8

I don’t think we need to bust the library too much. I mean, it’s not like their suing her to get the $90.

See if your husband or her mother can give them a call.

9

Library even. Must preview to check for typos. Argh.

10

Your step-daughter sounds like a fine person, Miss Gypsy. Avid readers are life’s blood to us.

First off, to Cyros, the library isn’t being jerkish. This situation happens more often than you’d think. We’ve had hundreds of dollars worth of materials lost in floods, fires, etc. Sometimes insurance has covered the losses, but the fact remains that the materials are gone. We can’t just shrug, say “Oh well” and write off expensive losses. Consider it this way: Miss Gypsy’s step-daughter found that $90 book valuable to her for research. So would other students, and the library has to act in their interests as well by replacing the book.

Second, by all means get an adult involved. If nothing else, write a letter for her, laying out the situation in her support. Hers is a legitimate hard-luck case. Believe me, we’re barraged with a bizarre litany of whining. (One woman left–just left–$400 worth of our books, videos and CDs in a vacation rental, then was furious when she was expected to pay for them. After all, she ‘just forgot! Hadn’t any of us ever just forgotten something?’) Lend your step-daughter face and credence that way. It’d be better if her mother would accompany her, but just having documentation would lend gravitas.

Third, the front desk staff probably can’t authorize an alternative pay-off plan. I don’t know what system they use, but our circulation system can’t unlock a card while installment payments are made. There isn’t an override that doesn’t wipe out the payment record as well. She needs to present her situation to somebody who can broker a deal.

Fourth, these deals aren’t uncommon either. If the library is worth its name, it cherishes avid readers. We’ve accepted all kinds of alternative payments. Some folks have help collate newsletters, plant the spring garden, dust bookshelves, hand out snacks at children’s events, mend books, etc. One man was flooded out --no insurance–but was very handy. He came up with the idea to build us a reader’s roost for the children’s room. Actually, some enjoyed it enough they stayed on as volunteers. A few became paid staffers when jobs came open.

This can be worked out, Miss Gypsy. Best of luck with it.

Veb

11

Thanks for all the input, folks.

So what would be a fair exchange of hours, perhaps shelving books or some other work at the library, for this $90 book?

(I worked in a library myself back in eighth grade, and I think it would be a great experience for her. I’m just not sure the library should be as upset with her as they seem to be, over something that is in no way her fault.)

Veb, you think a well-phrased, diplomatic letter from a step-mom might help? I’ll give it a shot, but I think I should run that by her mom, first.

My step-daughter just had, and quit, her first McJob, and I think a library experience would be more to her taste. I’ll suggest that possibility to her.

12

Revoking the library privileges of a 16 year old student who has proof of a house fire is unnecessarily harsh, IMO.

13

They shouldn’t be upset with her at all. If they’re acting pissy toward her, they’re professionally way out of line. Accidents happen to good people all the time. They have a responsibility to work with your step-daughter to resolve the situation. While they can’t just write off the debt, they have a responsiblity to keep the reader as well as replace the book.

I think a letter might help. It’s thoroughly wrong, but some people don’t show teenagers as much respect as they do adults. It wouldn’t hurt for them to know she has adults at her back. I’d suggest pointing out: the nature of the accident, her attempts to pay, her love of the library and reading, and her overall responsible nature.

If they don’t work with her, then I strongly suggest you and her mother send off letters to the library board of trustees. It’s the governing body that administration answers to. Usually board members are appointed or elected members of the community. Their board members should be listed in their publications, or website if they have one. That’s what they’re there for. Actually, board meetings are open to the public by law. Your step-daughter could attend a meeting and put her case to them directly. That’s when it’d be very valuable to have documentation about the fire, her attempts to make good on the debt, etc. It’s not unusual at all for a reader to call or write a member of my board, whether in praise or complaint. But better believe, when they speak, I listen. Closely.

Everybody answers to somebody. If your step-daughter doesn’t get cooperation on one level, politely go up the chain.

As far as amount of time to suggest, it’d depend on the task, how much she’s already been able to pay, etc. One possiblity would be estimating by minimum wage. That’s where negotiation comes in.

Veb

14

I like this idea. She is already focused on going to law school, (she doesn’t intend to be a mere attorney, but a Supreme Court Justice. Gotta like her ambition!) so she will love a challenge like this, now that we know how to proceed. Her parents and I will back her up as needed, but I think I’ll suggest that she start attending meetings and writing letters on her own behalf.

If she needs adult backup, we’ll step in. It does seem, thus far, that the staff are discounting a young library user because of her age. What a shame. :frowning:

If it comes down to it, her fees will be paid, and I will make sure that she retains library access until she goes off to college next year.