What should I do, the librarian has made a foolish mistake.

Question

The school librarian is demanding a large fee for a supposed outstanding textbook. I have turned this book in, about a week before high school ended in June. This librarian is anything but fair, and will require me to pay for her own blunder. Could I buy this textbook online and give it to her, in exchange? Or try to reason with her?

Answer 1

You should find the copy of the book that's missing, and then you can verify it with the bar code. See if other library staff are more helpful in helping you look for the book. This happens all the time (books get turned in, reshelved, and not checked back in). You should also consider that you could have made a mistake. I don't know how many times I've known someone be completely adamant about something and then still wrong (like "i bought this in may" and you look up the receipt and it's February).

Answer 2

Have your parents call the school. If you turned it in than you shouldn't have to pay at all. Chances are they forgot to scan it and its sitting with all the other books. Tell them you will not pay because you turned it in and wont pay for a mistake they made.

Answer 3

go with her to check for the book.

Answer 4

So do you have proof you returned this book?

That would make it a "slam dunk"!

May I suggest you change your attitude also. Everyone makes mistakes, so stay away from inflammatory remarks that use words such as "foolish".

If you anger her, nothing will be gained.

Maybe she made a mistake, maybe not. If you returned the book, did you return it properly?

Can you ask them to search for it?

Maybe ask them to see if it was subsequently checked out, maybe a record exists.

I suspect she is following the library rules wrt your fine.

Yes, do try to negotiate with her to replace the book. I suggest you talk to her before you buy it, there may be considerations that she is bound by.

When the dust settles, this is a small thing... (I know it does not seem that way to you)

Good luck

Answer 5

you have proof you turned it in?