Clearwater Overdue-Book Policy
Leads to Arrests
Three persons were arrested in early June for failing to appear in court to answer why they had not returned library materials to the Clearwater (Fla.) Public Library System, according to the June 10 Tampa Tribune. The three were among a total of 87 library patrons referred to the court system since January, although the majority returned the books to avoid fines or a jail sentence.
One of the arrestees was Sabrina Davis, a 22-year-old single mother who failed to respond to repeated notices and phone calls from the library over a period of 15 months because she couldn’t pay the $25.50 in late fees. Charges against her were dropped after a friend returned the books.
Library Director Arlita Hallam told American Libraries that before the policy was launched in 1996, the library was losing 9,000 overdue titles per year; that figure has dropped to less than 1,000. “Our customers love the policy because they know they are the ones who are footing the bills,” Hallam said.
Posted June 21, 1999.
|
