Laura J. Winters of Orono, Maine, accused of the theft of three books and one audiotape from the Old Town Public Library, pleaded guilty December 28 to lesser charges of violating library policy and failing to appear at a February 1998 court date in Penobscot County Superior Court. She was fined $200. Winters had already returned two items and reimbursed the library for the others, according to the Bangor Daily News.
The case may ultimately result in legislation that will benefit Maine libraries. The state's theft statute only applies to video stores and rental agencies, not libraries. As the prospect of a conviction for long-overdue library books became less certain, District Attorney R. Christopher Almy accepted a plea bargain by Winters. Almy has since been working with State Representative Matt Dunlap to submit the draft of a bill to make failure to return library materials a civil offense punishable by fine.
Library Director Valerie Osborne told American Libraries that the charges against Winters were pursued only after exhaustive attempts to retrieve the missing books.
Pisted January 4, 1999.