Friends
~ I am an anger crier. The angrier I am, the more tears fall. Tears are
streaming down my face right now. Did you know that you could be
prosecuted for theft if you forget to return, misplace, or damage a
library book if you can't afford to pay for it?!?!?!? I don't know where
to start.
When Ali reached sexual maturity, it was a few weeks
before we could get him fixed. We didn't know until well afterwards,
that he had "anointed" a bag of library books. The cheesy plastic bags
they use now do very little if any to deter liquids. Well, when we
packed up and returned library books, they said the smell ruined books
in other bags as well. I had lingered over returning the ones we found
while cleaning because we found a few more that were damaged. I was
already in fear of the bill for the ones already returned. Many were
around $30 PLUS a $5 processing fee per book, because they charge you
labor also.
Today, I got a letter in the mail from the prosecutor's
office notifying me that if I don't return and/or pay for all damaged
items, and appear on August 8th at 10 am, I will be prosecuted for theft
and pursued accordingly.
I have a lot of problems with this for several reasons.
1. One of our founding fathers' principles was to eliminate the concept
of debtor's prisons. I assumed this meant, that debts would be pursued
as civil, not criminal matters.
2. I can only assume that those
"storm clouds" are smoke rising from Simon J Peabody's grave. If he left
any descendants, I think they should sue to have his name disassociated
with the current incarnation of the library. He has to be spinning in
his grave so fast he's making storm clouds of smoke. If something sounds
like thunder, I would assume it to be him groans of agony of the
perversion of his dream of a library for every man. So much for his
dream of a FREE library.
3. If I have to pay a processing fee of $5
per item, and I assume 4 or more items processed per hour, I am
DEFINITELY in the WRONG profession. (And to think I thought
prostitution paid well.) This is RIDICULOUS!!
4. When did we lose
the "FREE" anyway? I know it was Peabody Free Library from inception
through my childhood at least. Sorry, Simon, I mourn with you.
5.
Public libraries were intended to be a resource for every man, not just
the wealthy. When did this change? Does the Andrew Carnegie Foundation
know this changed. I certainly hope the local library doesn't receive
grants from an honorable association as this!
6. The last time I
checked, there was no longer any free legal aid. How are we supposed to
defend ourselves? I have seen this communities public defenders, and
most are a joke, revenge of the rich on poor.
7. I was always one of the library's BIGGEST proponents. Reality is a BITCH, (pardon my profanity, but reality is painful)
Well, this is a painful situation in more ways than I care to count.
I WAS a HEAVY USER of THE library, at one time holding the
inter-library loan (ILL) record of 82 in one month. I used the android
overdrive app to read e-books, easier on my neuropathy than holding
heavy books, especially late in the day. I used the internet and the
computers before I had my own and access at home. I did my online work
there when I still sold Avon.
I am still grieving the loss of
access to the public library. I know they made a lot of people angry
when they offered free access to those whose township budgeted tax
dollars for their funding and had a fee for those whose didn't. I have
always lived in a township that participated. My heart aches over the
loss. I cannot afford to buy books. If I could, I wouldn't need a free
library. I think our community needs to take a stand against the
library's new policies. It is ironic that an agent protected by the
constitution under the 1st amendment umbrella wants to strip its patrons
of freedom from prosecution for imprisonment for debts. It is indeed a
dark day for Columbia City, home of the oppressed poor, and the Pol Pot
of libraries. — at Columbia City, IN.
PS ~ The bills total over $1,100 for me and about $1,00 for Julia. We live off less than my bill for an average month!
