Joel P. Schlesinger, a former area resident who lives in New Jersey, found The Joy of Camping in his attic a few months ago, according to the May 3 Buffalo News. He had checked the book out in 1981.
When he found the book, Schlesinger visited the library’s website to see about returning it, and learned of B&ECPL’s financial problems. Schlesinger calculated $2,190 as his total late fee, based on the library’s current fines of 25 cents per day. The library caps fines at $15, but when Director Ann M. Laubacker told Schlesinger of the maximum, he opted to pay the full amount. “I spent a lot of time in the Orchard Park library, doing projects and stuff,” Schlesinger said.
Posted May 6, 2005.