12 YO Girl on Probation for Overdue Book On Dolphins

ANOVA/Denver Post ^ | 7/12/02 | ASP

[ASP]

Sharp as tacks! Boy, do our officials have their priorities straight or what?!

Ananova:

12-year-old gets probation for overdue dolphin library book

A 12-year-old Colorado girl has been put on probation for returning a library book about dolphins late.

Marisa Gohr appeared in Littleton Municipal Court to face charges of unlawful retention of library materials.

She borrowed The Great Book Of The Sea from the Bemis Library and didn't return it until she got a court summons at least 11 weeks later.

The Denver Post says Judge James Kimmel accepted her guilty plea and she paid $15 court costs.

The judge said: "This citation is handled in the manner any other case would be."

Her father told the court: "I had no idea any of this happened until Marisa received the citation."

Library officials sent several letters before sending the summons.

While she's on probation she'll have to return to court if she has any more overdue library books.

"Marisa is scared to check out books," her mother said. "This whole situation is ridiculous."

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_627815.html?menu=

[Phantom Lord]

I always liked when they would spend 30 something cents to send out a late notice with a 25 cent fine.

[Hodar]

and didn't return it until she got a court summons at least 11 weeks later.

Hmmmm, the little girl checks out a book for the tradional 2 weeks, then keeps it for another 3 months? And her mother didn't bother to tell her that the library lets you borrow books, not keep them? I would sincerely doubt that this was the first time this individual 'borrowed' a book from the library. The library is not in the business of giving out books. Sometimes, you have to use a sledge hammer to get the attention of a fly.

[TrappedInLiberalHell]

So now we'll see libraries advertising themselves as 'dolphin-safe'.

[Allrightnow]

This is a clear cut case of Dolphin Book Retention (Possibly for illegal porpoises) and it was wise for the judge to make an example of this individual. Setting aside the possible financial detriment to the taxpayers should it not be returned, imagine the chaos that could ensue and the possible harm to the community if there were an emergency and someone needed to get a book on dolphins real, real fast.

[Maceman]

Hmmmm, the little girl checks out a book for the tradional 2 weeks, then keeps it for another 3 months? And her mother didn't bother to tell her that the library lets you borrow books, not keep them? I would sincerely doubt that this was the first time this individual 'borrowed' a book from the library. The library is not in the business of giving out books. Sometimes, you have to use a sledge hammer to get the attention of a fly.

When I was a boy, the library revoked your borrowing privileges until you paid your fine, which kept accruing. They didn't turn it into a matter for the courts.

[per loin]

You're right! They should have sent a SWAT team to raid the criminal's house.

[Allrightnow]

In that case, I sure hope that the Library branch of the NSA is not reading this. Was up in my the attic of my childhood home recently and came across a book entitled "Spooky Ghost Stories" that I borrowed in 1974. The amount of the fines on this one would likely make me a felon and could land doing some hard time.

[moyden]

Librarians are typical leftist thugs.

[joey'smom]

Thank you! I'm a librarian. Stealing is stealing.

[onedoug]

Someone needs to teach this kid about responsibility. Obviously the parents won't.

[CyberSpartacus]

And librarians steal from the taxpayer. I guess it takes a thief to catch a thief.

[Chemist_Geek]

They should have sent a SWAT team to raid the criminal's house.

It wouldn't have worked; this was in Littleton, Colorado. The SWAT team would have cowered behind their cars for hours while outside the girl's home. They might clear the porch, but only if it weren't an enclosed porch.

[white trash redneck]

Geez! My wife borrows stuff from the Bemis library all the time. Looks like I better email this story over to her.

Well, we're tough on lawbreakers here in Littleton. Zero tolerance. Columbine, y'know.

[poindexters brother]

One of our daughters checked out a bunch of books for a report on the State of Washington. We subsequently returned the books but then received a notice that one book was not returned and we were being charged $35 for a replacement and to pay up or we would be turned over to a collection agency.

I went to the library and found the "missing" book on the shelf. Upon presenting it to the return desk, they removed the charges and said they "were sorry". If I hadn't taken the time to look on the shelf for the book, I would be dealing out $35 - which is certainly better than being dragged into court.

So my question is, why do CO libraries drag people to court rather than assessing a charge and turning it over to a collection agency if it isn't paid? They must be on some sort of power trip.

[arm958]

Someone needs to teach this kid about responsibility. Obviously the parents won't.

True, but it's the parents who need the lesson more. If my 10 or 13 year old daughter received a late notice from the library in the mail you can bet that Mom or Dad would have opened it. You can also bet that one of my daughters would be returning a book to the library the next day.

[kitkat]

"Librarians are typical leftist thugs."

You are kidding, of course. Where was your /sarcasm off tag?

Liberals hate libraries. They don't want the sheeple to become educated.

[TomServo]

Busted by Mr. Bookman - the library policeman.

[boris]

As I remarked the first time this (or similar?) story ran, I must be Public (Library) Enemy #1 at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore. When I was a kid I lived for "library amnesties" which they periodically called to allow people with overdue books to return them without a fine.

I think I still got some somewhere around here...just kidding.

Anyway, that's one reason I can't go back to Baltimore. Life on the lam is tough.

--Boris

[blackbart.223]

"Sometimes, you have to use a sledge hammer to get the attention of a fly."

The sledge hammer would get the fly's attention for about a micro second. The courts would be better served going after criminals. The proper solution in this case would be to suspend the girls library privileges.