The world is divided into two kinds of people: People who return their library books on time, and bad people like me, who keep them even after they are due and can’t be renewed. People willing to pay the 25 cent a day fine to keep a book longer.
This point was hammered home for me this morning when I turned to my regular reading of the New York Times’ Ethicist column by Randy Cohen, who tackles this exact topic.
And lo and behold!, look who’s asking questions of public library ethics — it’s none other than my good friend Rachel Bucci, Salem, Ore. resident and mom of one.
Here’s her question:
I borrowed “Juliet Naked,” the latest Nick Hornby novel, from my local library a few weeks ago. It is due today. Unfortunately I’m only about halfway through and can’t renew it, because it is on hold for another patron. I’m willing to pay the penalty, 25 cents a day, so I can keep reading. May I do that, or must I return it knowing that someone else is waiting for it? RACHEL BUCCI, SALEM, ORE.
And here is Mr. Cohen’s answer.
The Ethicist generally runs a few months after the issues are resolved, and that happened with Ms. Bucci as well. By the time she got her name in the New York Times — go Rachel! Every writer’s dream! — she had already decided the right thing was to return the book on time and check it out later.
That’s news to me. I still have the library’s copies of Jo Frost’s Confident Baby Care and Harvey Karp’s Happiest Baby on the Block, which were due on Thursday.
Don’t worry, I plan to make good on this library transgression by participating in the library’s FOOD FOR FINES program.
Apparently, when I am good, I am very very good, and when I am bad, I am horrid.
Or at least unethical.
Let’s hope the local library doesn’t decide to raise fines after Cohen calls the current rates “ineffectual enforcement tactics.” I don’t want a public flogging!
P.S. And for any SPL librarians who may be reading…it must also be disclosed that I returned it two days late – albeit without finishing the book. I’m not a complete saint!
A public library that is giving really good customer service will purchase enough copies of a book that is in demand so that you can renew the book at least once, even when others have it on reserve. Serious readers who are also working and parenting and involved in their communities don’t have enough time to finish all the books they check out in three weeks. Unfortunately our library is not well funded enough to give this kind of really good customer service. Instead of buying enough copies, they force their customers to give back the book. Mr. Cohen’s response doesn’t take this into account. Users of our library should not feel guilty about keeping a book they are not able to renew (even once) so that they can finish the dang thing. Our library’s budget woes are to blame for this sad situation (see today’s S-J for a good article on this).
We should pass on your comment to Mr. Cohen and see how he responds. I kind of like his “no moral grey areas” attitude, but he forgot the local politics angle.
Jim, I agree; and…I think that some new releases are even limited to 2 weeks check out.