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Town Library Gets Mean
Fox News ^ | March 09, 2005

Posted on 03/09/2005 7:04:42 PM PST by paudio

Better return those overdue library books — they could land you in jail.

Jeremy Jones of Burlington, Wash., called police to his home on Feb. 22 about a case of mail theft.

But the cops found Jones had a warrant out for "detaining city property" and missing a related court date. They promptly clapped the cuffs on the 20-year-old man.

Turned out he had 18 books, worth a total of $268, long past due to the Burlington Public Library (search).

"I told [the police], 'They're right on the table, take them,'" Jones told KOMO-TV of Seattle. "They said, 'No, we have a warrant, we have to arrest you.'"

Jones spent about an hour in the county lockup before promising to appear in court.

"Most libraries just send it to a collection agency and have them deal with it," Jones told the Skagit Valley Herald of Mount Vernon, Wash. "This has gone beyond any comprehension of reality."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: library
What's next?
1 posted on 03/09/2005 7:04:44 PM PST by paudio
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To: paudio
"This has gone beyond any comprehension of reality."

Exactly, this is crazy. This is America. We have the RIGHT to steal $268 worth of books!

<sarcasm*>

2 posted on 03/09/2005 7:07:09 PM PST by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: Onelifetogive

Very slow reader?


3 posted on 03/09/2005 7:08:37 PM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (When you compromise with evil, evil wins. AYN RAND)
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To: Onelifetogive

Exactly, this is crazy. This is America. We have the RIGHT to steal $268 worth of books!

No, but you do have the right to look at nekked women in the library.

4 posted on 03/09/2005 7:08:59 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (In God We Trust. All Others We Monitor.)
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To: paudio

I don't mind people being held responsible for stealing from taxpayers.


5 posted on 03/09/2005 7:09:15 PM PST by Borges
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To: paudio

It would be nice if big city libraries got "mean" when it came to kicking out vagrants.


6 posted on 03/09/2005 7:10:02 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: paudio
Turned out he had 18 books, worth a total of $268, long past due to the Burlington Public Library (search).

That's a heck of a lot of books. First step would have been revoking his library privileges.

"I told [the police], 'They're right on the table, take them,'"

Oh, so he was waiting for someone to come and get them. Too little, too late, buddy.

7 posted on 03/09/2005 7:10:57 PM PST by Ruth A.
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To: Mr. Mojo
It would be nice if big city libraries got "mean" when it came to kicking out vagrants.

It would be even better if they kicked out the homosexuals from the Boston Public Library toilet rooms.

8 posted on 03/09/2005 7:15:25 PM PST by LoneRangerMassachusetts (Some say what's good for others, the others make the goods; it's the meddlers against the peddlers)
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To: Borges
I don't mind people being held responsible for stealing from taxpayers.

I agree, also that should include the House and Senate since these bozos do this on a regular basis and I might add it doesn't bother them one bit since they believe part of their job description is the right to take taxpayer money(with no qualms)for their own personal pork programs.

9 posted on 03/09/2005 7:36:35 PM PST by VOYAGER
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To: paudio

Egads... I am very sure the library has sent out a number of notices on 18 books. How did he keep checking out so many? That is just wrong. He should be in jail. He's probably one of the dorks that held me up in the past in some research paper while waiting for the book to be returned. Phew.. I feel better now. $268 is money us taxpayers shouldn't have to cover.


10 posted on 03/09/2005 7:39:44 PM PST by Cate
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts
It would be even better if they kicked out the homosexuals from the Boston Public Library toilet rooms.

It would also be nice if the ALA librarians weren't enablers of children looking at filthy materials.

I don't have a strong opinion on the enforcement. I have decided that I will not risk my kids exposure to smut in the library. If a book is worth reading, it is probably worth the bookfinder.com price. For raw reference, the Internet makes the public library practically moot. For the real esoteric stuff (when the kids are of late high school age), there are law libraries, seminary libraries, university libraries. Heck, a lot of the true classics are available at thrift stores and tag sales for a quarter.
11 posted on 03/09/2005 7:40:28 PM PST by sittnick (There's no salvation in politics.)
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To: paudio

They were too gentle. Stealing is stealing. Stealing from everyone should be punished.


12 posted on 03/09/2005 8:04:38 PM PST by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)
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To: VeniVidiVici
No, but you do have the right to look at nekked women in the library.

What they have nekked women in the library now ? Sheesh in my day we had to resort to National Geographic.
13 posted on 03/09/2005 8:33:27 PM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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To: paudio

Reminds me of a little experience I had, many years ago. A letter came to me from the mayor, and my mother was quite interested. "Lewis, why did you get a letter from the mayor?" I was required to open it in her presence. The letter revealed I had a library book overdue for THIRTY DAYS! The fine had accumulated to ... THIRTY CENTS!

My father appeared on the scene - "Take this book back to the library, RIGHT NOW!"

I'll never forget my reaction - seared into my memory - "Now?"

But I did, and I was amazed that I was doing it all the way to the library.


14 posted on 03/09/2005 10:21:04 PM PST by dr_lew
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To: Mr. Mojo

In New York, you can kick out those with "excessive body odor" from the library. That covers most vagrants. Unfortunately, they often wind up in Barnes & Noble.


15 posted on 03/09/2005 10:24:39 PM PST by Clemenza (Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms: The Other Holy Trinity)
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To: sittnick; festus
It would also be nice if the ALA librarians weren't enablers of children looking at filthy materials. I don't have a strong opinion on the enforcement. I have decided that I will not risk my kids exposure to smut in the library.
Based on this, I'll guess you will probably like to see www.plan2succeed.org, a site dedicated to getting the ALA to comply with the law to filter Internet computers and to stop pushing porn on children. Go ahead, read all the outrageous stories gathered there. Oh by the way, you may want to read Parents Against Bad Books In Schools as well.
16 posted on 03/22/2005 9:57:11 PM PST by plan2succeed.org (www.plan2succeed.org)
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