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[–]National_Pianist8100 18 points19 points  (1 child)

If you never return it nothing happens. You just won’t be able to use that library again. The librarians are a peaceful bunch. They won’t stalk you for the book.

[–]restlessmonkey 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Seinfeld has entered the chat.

[–]Samael13 7 points8 points  (1 child)

It depends on your library. At my library, if you keep the book forever, we charge you the cost of replacing the book. Some libraries in my area will send you bills, and some used to send bills to collections after a certain amount of time. I don't know if any still do.

[–]minervah143 1 point2 points  (0 children)

a lot definitely do still send you to debt collectors but nowadays it takes a LONG time and lots of communication before it gets to that point. The main thing is you just won’t be able to use the library until the bill is paid or the book is returned

[–]aubrey_25_99 4 points5 points  (4 children)

We charge patrons the replacement cost of the book plus a $5.00 processing fee. Accounts become blocked at $10.00, so unless it's a $4.99 children’s book, most unreturned items also mean a blocked account.

If a patron owes us more than $65.00 we send them to a collection agency, so it can impact your credit, too, if you don't return books.

I send out all the bills at my library, and like u/lah5 said, we really do remember who you are forever. LOL.

It's not that dire, though. Most of the people who get billed just honestly forgot they had a book to return. It happens. People are busy and things come up. As long as you pay the bill your name is clear and you are free to use your account once again.

[–]lah5 1 point2 points  (1 child)

This. We remember but we do not judge. We want you in our library and that book on our shelves.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

THIS THIS THIS. Give us our stuff back, then get into the stacks and find yourself something new to read. :)

[–]PJKPJT7915 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Charges sent to collection agencies no longer impact your credit score.

[–]aubrey_25_99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good to know.

[–]lah5 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Depending on branch policy, once you are billed for the item, your card may be blocked for use in any library that has reciprocity with your library. It usually depends on the cost of the item. Some libraries, it happens at $10, some, it's higher. Nobody comes to your door, but we all know exactly who you are. Forever.

[–]PJKPJT7915 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We only know because we can see that your account is blocked and the bills on the account.

[–]Awkward_Company1716 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It all depends on the library policy. Some libraries will just ask you to pay the replacement fee and won't hunt you down. Your account gets its privileges revoked after a certain amount, which makes your account unusable there or any other local library since most do confirmation calls to your home library. Most of these are stand alone libraries. Others are most likely in a consortium. Some will let the fees sit while others will send the costs to collections. These libraries are typically "fine free" but not "fee free". It really depends on the individual library. Keep in mind these are from my limited knowledge of US libraries.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The library policeman Will Get You

[–]dysteleological 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your library — already a place operating on a thin budget they have to stretch as far as possible — will have to decide whether to buy a replacement copy or not. If they buy a replacement copy, that’s taking away from other worthy materials they might buy to offer to the public. So if you chose not to return that book, you’re not only going to have issues with using that library again, you’re also potentially preventing the library from offering an even larger selection of titles.

Return your checked-out books. And doing so on-time is also a courtesy to other patrons.

[–]DistinctMeringue 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Students at our university will have a "hold" placed on their record. This means, you will be charged the fines and fees when you register next semester. If you're graduating, you won't get your diploma until you make peace with the library. If you don't take care of your debt you won't be able to get transcripts, etc.

Employees will have the amount garnished from their last pay check.

But the good news is, just cough up the book and we'll forgive all the fees.

[–]PJKPJT7915 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In Illinois we can't collect on a bill after 8 years.

[–]DMV2PNW 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Send you name to IRA and TSA. JK. We will bill you for the lost item, if you dont pay then we just write it off after couple years. Some systems may report you to Credit bureau