Dead? You Still Have to Pay Library Fine

My Way News ^ | 9/26/07 | AP

[varyouga]

HARRISON, N.Y. (AP) - Even the dead apparently have to pay the fines on their overdue books at one Westchester County library. Elizabeth Schaper said she was charged a 50-cent late fee while turning in a book that her late mother had checked out of a Harrison Public Library branch.

"I was in shock," Schaper said. "This has rocked me to my core."

Schaper's mother, Ethel Schaper, died at the age of 87 on Sept. 16 after suffering a massive stroke. A few days later, Schaper said she found a library book, "The Price of Silence," by Camilla Trinchieri, that her mother had checked out from the library.

...

"I told him that maybe he didn't hear me right, that my mother had just died, otherwise I'm sure that she would have returned it on time," Schaper said. "His only reply was that, 'That will be 50 cents.'"

[varyouga]

Shakin' down dead old ladies.

[dighton]

Don’t make them come for you.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Tell ‘em to send the bill.

[Ancient Drive]

drop 50 pennies on the counter when you go pay, and spread them out. That butt head needs to work it.

[catman67]

Don’t pay at all, just walk out. If they try to do anything to you, sue!

[N. Theknow]

Library has rules. Pay when you check out.

[varyouga]

Death & Taxes

So now it’s taxes after death.

[catman67]

How about “You can have my overdue library book when you pry it from my cold dead hands!”?

[Hemorrhage]

50 Cents? An entire newspaper column was written because the relative of a deceased library patron was charged a lousy FIFTY CENTS!?!?

Maybe they didn’t know the lady died. Maybe they didn’t care. Maybe they wanted to go to the gumball machine.

Just pay the two quarters, and shut up.

H

[trimom]

What’s the big deal? Pay the 50 cents and walk away. All debts are supposed to be paid from the estate, anyway.

Asbestos suit on, flame away.

[waverna]

“I was in shock,” Schaper said. “This has rocked me to my core.”

Really?

I guess she found out The Price of Silence. $.50

[SampleMan]

"I was in shock," Schaper said. "This has rocked me to my core."

This over 50 cents?!? Must be a liberal. Wait until she finds out that the estate still has to pay the light bill.

[Gay State Conservative]

"We're going to take that 50 cents from you for the common good".

Hillary Rob'em Clinton

[napscoordinator]

“I was in shock,” Schaper said. “This has rocked me to my core.”

This women clearly does not have a life if this has rocked me to her core. Goodness sakes were talking 50 cents. Where do I send her the 50 cents so she does not have a heart attack. This woman clearly needs help.

[basil]

I'm with you--pay the half buck and shut up. Chances are that the guy working in the library doesn't care all that much if your mother is dead--he's just doing his job.

If you are really outraged by this, then take it up with the person in charge of running the library, who has the power to make a decision of whether or not to charge that 50 cent fee.

[tx_eggman]

50 Cents? An entire newspaper column was written because the relative of a deceased library patron was charged a lousy FIFTY CENTS!?!?

They gotta fill the fish wrap with something ...

[DBrow]

Well, if you don’t pay your library fine, you can’t vote. Pay up.

[Calpernia]

Hey, the dead maintain the right to vote. So, they may as well contribute financially too.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Wouldn’t it feel good to pay the 50 cents?

You are doing one last thing for your mother.

I think I would pay it with a smile.

[Proverbs 3-5]

Seinfeld Episode 22 - Oct. 16, 1991
The Library

JERRY'S APARTMENT

JERRY: Let me speak with the head librarian. ... Because it's absurd. An overdue book from 1971? ... This is a joke right? What are you? From a radio station?

KRAMER: enters

JERRY: Ya' got me I fell for it. Alright, OK I can be down there in like a half hour. Bye.

KRAMER: What's the problem?

JERRY: This you're not goin' to believe. The NYPL says that I took out Tropic of Cancer in 1971 and never returned it.

KRAMER: Do you know how much that comes to? That's a nickel a day for 20 years. It's going to be $50,000

JERRY: It doesn't work like that.

KRAMER: If it's a dime a day it could be $100,000

JERRY: It's not going to be anything. I returned the book. I remember it very vividly because I was with Sherry Becker. She waore this orange dress. It was the first time I ever saw her in a dress like that. In oticed since ninth grade she was developing this body in secret under these loose clothes for like two years. And then one day ...

FLASHBACK



LIBRARY

KRAMER: The Dewey Decimal System, what a scam that was. Boy that Dewey guy really cleaned up on that deal.



LIBRARIAN: Yes?

JERRY: Yes I called before. I got his notice in the mail.

LIBRARIAN: Oh, Tropic of Cancer, Henry Miller, Uh, this case has been turned over to our library investigation officer Mr. Bookman.

KRAMER: Bookman? The library investigator's name is actually, Bookman?

LIBRARIAN: It's true.

KRAMER: That's amazing. That's like an ice cream man named, Cone.

LIBRARIAN: Lt. Bookman has been working here for 25 years so I think he's heard all the jokes.

JERRY: Can I speak with this Bookman?

LIBRARIAN: Just a second.



LIBRARIAN: Mr. Bookman's not here.

JERRY: Not here? Why was I told to come down here?

LIBRARIAN: He'll be out all afternoon on a case.

KRAMER: He's out on a case? He actually goes out on cases?

JERRY: Well what am I supposed to do now?

LIBRARIAN: I'll have Mr. Bookman get in touch with you.



JERRY'S APARTMENT

JERRY: Oh, I'm glad you're here, so we can get this all straightened out. Would you like a cup of tea?

BOOKMAN: You got any coffee?

JERRY: Coffee?

BOOKMAN: Yeah. Coffee.

JERRY: No, I don't drink coffee.

BOOKMAN: Yeah, you don't drink coffee? How about instant coffee?

JERRY: No, I don't have--

BOOKMAN: You don't have any instant coffee?

JERRY: Well, I don't normally--

BOOKMAN: Who doesn't have instant coffee?

JERRY: I don't.

BOOKMAN: You buy a jar of Folger's Crystals, you put it in the cupboard, you forget about it. Then later on when you need it, it's there. It lasts forever. It's freeze-dried. Freeze-dried Crystals.

JERRY: Really? I'll have to remember that.

BOOKMAN: You took this book out in 1971.

JERRY: Yes, and I returned it in 1971.

BOOKMAN: Yeah, '71. That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries. Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella.

JERRY: Look, Mr. Bookman. I--I returned that book. I remember it very specifically.

BOOKMAN: You're a comedian, you make people laugh.

JERRY: I try.

BOOKMAN: You think this is all a big joke, don't you?

JERRY: No, I don't.

BOOKMAN: I saw you on T.V. once; I remembered your name--from my list. I looked it up. Sure enough, it checked out. You think because you're a celebrity that somehow the law doesn't apply to you, that you're above the law?

JERRY: Certainly not.

BOOKMAN: Well, let me tell you something, funny boy. Y'know that little stamp, the one that says "New York Public Library"? Well that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole hell of a lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before: Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. What's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers? Doesn't HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped! Or: maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld; maybe that's how y'get your kicks. You and your good-time buddies. Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time is over. Y'got seven days, Seinfeld. That is one week!

[vetsvette]

Leftists at work.

[Reagan79]

Just keep the book if it’s a big deal. Who cares if they keep charging a lady who has passed on?

[varyouga]

That was my first year on the job. Bad year for libraries. Bad year for America. Hippies burning library cards, Abby Hoffman telling everybody to steal books. I don't judge a man by the length of his hair or the kind of music he listens to. Rock was never my bag. But you put on a pair of shoes when you walk into the New York Public Library, fella.

LOL. Funniest thing I've read all day.

[Calvin Locke]

Heh! At least it's a real story, not a made up one.

Just goes to show you when the gub'mint's in charge of everything, not even death is an escape.

Is Harrison near Ithaca, by any chance?

[JerseyDvl]

I would have told the heartless bastard where he could go.

[yankeedame]

“I was in shock,” Schaper said. “This has rocked me to my core.”

This women clearly does not have a life if this has rocked me to her core.

=============================

It's not only that, but how many times in your life, factoring all you've have gone through, have you ever used the term: “This has rocked me to my core”?

[Hemorrhage]

>> “I was in shock,” Schaper said. “This has rocked me to my core.”

That’s a pretty fragile core.

Rocked to the core over fifty cents?

People will whine and complain about anything ... and some here actually seem to think this is liberalism run amok. Its not.

Liberalism is bitching and moaning to the local paper about FIFTY CENTS! I lost 65 cents in a snack machine 25 minutes ago ... I’m still waiting on my call from the Houston Chronicle.

H

[Old Professer]

Take the book to the executor along with a written demand for the fifty cents and present it to him.

If he already has completed probate he will also have the forms presented to him for payment after the public notice of death and time to claim was filed.

If the library made no claim, they can request the book back from him and lose out on the fine.

So I was led to believe.

[ansel12]

Well worth the read.

[Hemorrhage]

>> BOOKMAN: ... I’ve seen your type before: Flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. What’s this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Well, let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we’re too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers?

This even READS funny! Bookman, the library cop ... one of my favorite Sienfeld bit-parts.

H

[napscoordinator]

lol. True

[unixfox]

Are you also "rocked to the core" after you see the deductions from your paycheck?

That's what I thought.

[Old Professer]

When told to apologize by our mom my sister once replied directly at me, “You provoked me to wrath!”

[mkjessup]

Tell the bum at the counter to ‘charge it to the dust, and let the rain settle it’.

The damn library doesn’t need it’s ‘overdue fines’ THAT badly.

Screw those pointy-headed pseudo-intellectual gasbags.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Why haven’t you paid your library fees???

[pray4liberty]

Way too funny. I think the idea of paying in 50 pennies is cute.

If this lady was named as her mom's Executrix, she is going to be in for a lot more shocks than a 50 cent fine.

[Smokin' Joe]

Wouldn’t it feel good to pay the 50 cents? You are doing one last thing for your mother. I think I would pay it with a smile.

Yep. How many times did her mom do that for her?

[bert]

The fine is an obligation of the estate. Upon proper published notice, credotors will be notofied to submit claims.

[SkyDancer]

Don’t pay, let them revoke her library card ... that’ll show ‘em ....

[ravinson]

Well I got a flash for ya, joy-boy: Party time is over.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"I told him that maybe he didn't hear me right, that my mother had just died, otherwise I'm sure that she would have returned it on time," Schaper said. "His only reply was that, 'That will be 50 cents.'"

We have a middle finger for these occasions.

[discostu]

Whenever returning a book of questionable origin (ie might be late but not on your card) use the overnight drop keeps them from tying you to the book and asking for money. Of course the lady could have walked away telling them to bill her mom. Libraries are very stimulus response on this kind of stuff, if you bring in a book and stand there while they check it in and find out it’s late they’re going to want you to pay the fee, if you don’t want to be asked to pay the fee don’t be there when they check it in.

[John Williams]

Personally, I wouldn’t have returned the book.

[Disambiguator]

20 posts before the Seinfeld reference? We’re slipping.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Just give the library her new address and have them bill her:

Pinedell Cemetary
Plot 186

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

"I was in shock," Schaper said. "This has rocked me to my core."

I smell the stink of a mental torture angle on a lawsuit here.

If that's all it takes to rock her world, it's too small a world for me to want to have anything to do with.

[Political Junkie Too]

Forget the 50 cents. Cancel her voter registration instead.

-PJ

[elcid1970]

“I would have told the heartless bastard where he could go”

At last, somebody on this thread recognizes the complete lack of human decency on the part of the moron behind the counter.

How about “Ma’am, I’m sorry to hear about your loss. Don’t worry about the fine.”

Woulda really broken the bank, huh?

[Larry Lucido]

Sorry, just got here. :-)

Post 20, folks!

[mimaw]

If this was such a shock that it rocked her to her core I say lady get yourself a good analyst.