Holy Crud! I forgot about my late Library books!!!

Some of you might remember my previous posts lamenting my library fines and my many futile complaints about hostile or maladroit librarians who get between me and the archives, books or manuscripts I desire. Certainly I have been in Libraries so long that I have become somewhat complacent, even cavalier with my actions and activities with them.

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With the words of the august Britney Spears in my mind; oops, I did it again. Yes, it was only a month ago that I lamented to anyone who would hear me about my £25 library charge with an extra £12 fine to clear the account. Sure I took out way too many text books, hadn't bothered to scan or photocopy the relevant articles and had left them to gather dust on my shelf... but despite the fact that I hadn't bothered even to check their due dates on-line, I somehow felt that I didn't deserve such a punishment. I'm a researcher after all, we're supposed to keep books and hoard stuff. Yet despite the debit to my wallet, something I can ill afford, I go and do the crime all over again. Can't wait to see the supercilious face of the head librarian as I come back to hand over even more cash. At this rate (and it is looking like a pattern is forming here) I should ask for the new library wing to be named in my (dis)honour.

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!"

Anyway, here I am again. This isn't even the second time either but part of a repetitive track record of late library fines and dealing with asinine library staff. What happened this time is that I can't renew on-line as the fine is over £15 but I cant make it in until next Wednesday. The fine is temporarily frozen but when I pay it, it automatically adds on the time difference so I'll have to pay almost a weeks worth of fines! Only a week - well we are talking of over 20 books and texts here. Why does this keep happening. I don't think I'm stupid or beleaguered by some philia for library hi jinks. Perhaps it is in the blood? My sister once was fined somewhere in the £100's mark when she temporarily absconded with some precious book from the School of Oriental and African studies a number of years back. I'm bad, but not THAT bad. Still all these £20 pound notes are adding up over the year.

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Although I do not believe in "New Year Resolutions", I have promised myself that this is the last library violation I am going to make or at least the ones that are easily avoided with a modicum of foresight! Must try harder as my old report cards used to say. Let this be the last library fine especially as it is so easy to renew online!!!! So it goes.

07/01/2007

Just an addendum to the above. My assertion that I would not incur another library fine lasted just a week into the new year. I have just paid £42 in fines. Essentially I forgot that I had a few short loan books so when I went to renew the lot online, I found I had incurred library fines. There had already been a fine of £10 in the system which I had decided to pay the next time I was in the library. Then I decided to return my library books and pay the fine BUT I forgot that the library closed early on the 22nd. Add a few more feeble excuses and you have me trying to renew the books this morning. Oh dear!

When I arrived at the library there was a small group of studious "swats" in the reading room and a few fresh faced bodies wandering around. It was generally quiet and the weekend librarian staff where on. Generally they are very good natured, despite working on a Sunday, although some I rarely see so they may be part time workers. Anyway I walked up and handed over my library card sheepishly.

Essentially I am of the opinion that my public demeanour is good and that I come off as a friendly sort of chap. In most cases I can get on with strangers and often get on the good side of people when talking to them. Unfortunately if I run into a "jobsworth", or a "I hate that I have to serve YOU" type, I am generally sunk as my good friendly banter quickly gear shifts into a passive supplicant that only brings out the worse in such types. In fact I have meekly put up with some frankly rude (if not abusive) people in my time. I rarely complain and try to remain friendly even in the face of incompetence. Its a very bad character flaw that has caused a fair bit of bother. The fact is that bullies often crumple when someone bites back but redouble their efforts if you wilt or appear meek before them.

Fortunately this time the librarian was nice and we got to chatting about things. It must have been a slow day for her. Anyway she gave me all manner of options, including just paying £1 to unfreeze my account, but I opted to pay the whole whack. It was I who failed to renew the books, it was I who failed to come in earlier and it was I who knew how these fines can easily ratchet up in a short stretch of time. The full fine was £43.90 but she said £42 would be alright.

So will this bee my last infraction? I hope so as these bites out of my wallet are slowly mounting up! Fingers crossed.