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Stolen Library Card Results in $1,000 FineAfter being slapped with a $1,000 fine for materials taken by a thief using her stolen Tacoma (Wash.) Public Library card, Christina Dougherty has persuaded the library board to review its stolen-book policy at its next meeting April 18. When Dougherty’s wallet was stolen last year, she immediately replaced her identification and credit cards but forgot about her library card until she received a notice for overdue materials three months later, the Tacoma News Tribune reported March 31. TPL Executive Director Susan Odencrantz said the library lacks the budget or insurance to cap a customer’s liability at a certain amount in cases of theft, as a credit-card company can do, and that the library’s policy is clearly stated on every card. The big fear, she said, is that less-severe policies would encourage more theft. Dougherty has since negotiated the fee to a fraction of the initial charges, but she still wants the library to reexamine its policies. At the very least, she hopes borrowers can be made more aware of their responsibilities. “Nothing in my wallet cost me as much as my library card,” Dougherty said. “I’ve ruled out libraries. I’m not going to get another library card.” Posted April 9, 2001. |
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