After just 5 short minutes of discussion with the library manager, she waved the $19.32 on my library account.
My response to one of her staff members falsely accusing me of my "imaginary dog" ruining one of the library books was as follows:
1) I felt extremely offended that one of your staff members would make such an accusation as your "dog" chewed one of the books....I made it clear that I didn't even own a dog!...she apologized on behalf of her staff member for the accusation.
2) I checked the library book out myself and if I thought that there would a possibility of a fine place on my library card, then obviously I would have brough it up to one of the staff members...I also made it clear that I used to work for the Toronto Public Library for 3 years as a Page and the ONLY time we did not allow a patron to check out a book was 1) the pages were literally falling out 2) the cover was falling off....the expression on her face told me that she was SHOCKED that I used to work for the public library and that I knew about book checking policies.
3) I also decided to mention to her that I am indeed an ENGLISH MAJOR and that I take extreme care of all of my books. I do not write in them, not even with pencil, nor do I highlight my book, let alone destroy the front covers of books....again, her facial expressions suggested that she would have never guessed that I was an English Major....
I was PISSED OFF (for a lack of better words) when I recieved the phone call from the library because to charge me and accuse me of destroying a book, is definately a great offense, considering the following reasons I gave above.
The damages they tried to charge me for was soooooooo minute! It was literally a scratch on the top corner of the book cover. I can't believe they would even try charging anyone for that!
In a way, I'm glad that I was the one who received the $19.32 phone call and not some other helpless patron who would have definately been "tricked" into paying the fine. Hopefully, in the future the staff members of that library will find other "past times", while making their comfortable gov't salaries.
