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"I didn't know you were open."
My silent response: "We've been open for seven weeks, with notices in the paper, on social media and announcements on the radio."
"I forgot I had these books."
In my head I'm saying, "I'm not your mother. You are an adult. You could have returned these materials to the book drop anytime.
"I didn't think you had a book drop."
Without a sound I think, "There is a book drop in front of the building that clearly states, please return materials to the drop located near the front door."
During the entire time the Mifflin County Library was closed, our book drops were open, and we waived all fines and fees for overdue items. When we did open we gave all borrowers a 30-day grace period to return overdue materials without fines and fees.
When we reopened June 1, we called borrowers whose books were at least 90 days overdue and asked them to return the materials before July 1 to avoid fines and fees.
Beginning July 2. we ended the grace period and began charging fines and fees again. This resulted in a plethora of certified letters to borrowers with materials that are now considered long overdue. Long story short -- return the materials, pay the fines or face magistrate court.
My goodness! What a tempest in a teapot! It's been almost as bad as being mask police.
I'd like to say I have some sympathy for these folks, but I don't. Between March 14 and July 1, there were 110 days for book returns, available 24/7. Yes, I am well aware there was and continues to be a pandemic. Sorry, we just aren't buying that as a reason for non-returns.
Here's the bottom line folks: We gave you all the possible time we could to return material, fine free. Now you have to pay up. It's a simple concept, really. Check it out. Bring it back before the due date. Easy-peasy. Your choice.
The consequences of not doing this? You get to pay for the privilege of keeping the materials longer and depriving others of the opportunity to borrow them.
Do I sound angry? Well, maybe a little bit but not enough to unleash my potential snarkiness. What I really am is just plain sad at folk's lack of respect for the Library and our borrowers. I guess I should just be glad nobody will die from having overdue books.
Speaking of the glad/sad feelings, I was so happy to see all the social media postings asking when we were going to reopen. We had literally hundreds of messages and phone calls asking when we would reopen. Now that we have been open for almost eight weeks, I've come to realize that just because people want the library to be open doesn't mean they will once again come in to use the computers, check out materials or take advantage of all the services we have available.
Perhaps an open library brings some sense of community normalcy during uncertain times. Are we a kind of security blanket reassuring residents that we will be here for them, even if they don't come in and check out books? Does the populace not feel safe coming into the building? We clean, we quarantine, we mask and we social distance.
I guess it simply boils down to Mifflin County residents want us to be open for services, even if they don't plan to come in at all. This idea makes me a tad bit sad as we miss seeing and talking with you.
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Dr. Molly S. Kinney is the Director at the Mifflin County Library. She is currently reading The American Agent (Maisie Dobbs No. 15) by Jacqueline Winspear.