My school library is charging me late fees even though I turned it in on time! How should I deal with it?

Question

I KNOW FOR SURE I TURNED IT IN ON TIME!

My guess is since it's a reserve material (they charge fricken $1 per hour it was late) one lady forgot to put it back on the shelfs, was gonna get in trouble and so took it out on me!

I am NOT going to pay because I did nothing wrong! What should I do?

Answer 1

Be sure to be very polite, but go in with one of your parents if you can and speak to the person in charge of the whole library and tell them what happened.  They may still choose to charge you but whatever you do, be as polite as possible.

Answer 2

Tell that ALL to pound sand & provide them each with a mallet.

Okay, I just had to say that.

Being serious, I would write a short and kind letter stating your truth.  i.e. Say what you mean; mean what you say & don't say it mean.  No other explanation is required {i.e. your supposition about "one lady forgot to put it back" may or may not be true.  So do not entertain that.  Just state what day you brought it back, how you brought it back {book drop or handing it to "Mrs XYZ}, if you also had other books, etc.  That is, state the facts.  Finish by adding a quick bit of history, "In recent, I have not had an overdue book"  or "In the past, I have only had a few overdue books & each time I have paid my fine in a responsible manner.  The closing would simply say, "Very truly, [next 4th line] your name & sign it in between.  Make a copy for your own records & hand deliver it to the main librarian.