See, now I’d be morally conflicted, at that point, because I know — since it’s wait-listed — that someone else wants to check it out. I’m NOT being legalistic, here, and saying that YOU must do this, but I’d go get a replacement copy just to grease the skids for the library. Likely, their “fine” for lost books isn’t sufficient to pay for replacement copies, anyway, so the other person who, at present, thinks they’ll be able to get the book out after you return it is going to be disappointed. Call it an overzealous restitution impulse, but just forking over the fine wouldn’t be enough for me to have peace about the whole thing. I’d be squirming in the pew come Sunday.
Yeah, I’d say racing to the bookstore for a copy of “Ruby, the Red Fairy” would be a little overzealous, especially since the system has a dozen copies, so each little girl on the reserve list will only have to wait another day or two for this thrilling tome due to our misplacing one.
And don’t worry, they’ll charge me full replacement cost, plus a markup for their trouble.