fraidycat Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 ...to those of you who posted awhile back about finding "overdue" library books back on the shelf AT the library. When DH texted me today that he received notification of an overdue book that I swore I returned, I went to the library before I tore my house apart. It was there. One of 6 or 7 that I returned all at the same time, so I'm not sure how only the one didn't get scanned in. Anyway, Thanks! It's too hot to clean house. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jpoy85 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Ive had that happen. I always make sure now to take it to the librarian and get a receipt. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElaineJ Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 This has happened to me twice, so I would always recommend checking the library shelves first! I'm glad you found it. Elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I had over 18 MONTHS of arguing over a book that I knew I returned. For a change I actually clearly remembered dropping it into the slot. It wasn't until the library got quaked and was closed and cleared out that the book disappeared off my card. I *had* checked the shelves but I think it was out the back somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delirium Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Good job! I've had that happen once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 That used to happen to me often but hasn't for a while. Last week two items that I returned in a batch of about thirty didn't get scanned in. I caught it when looking at my account at home, called, and they found them on the shelves and cleared my account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelbe5 Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 The libraries I frequent now have automatic check in - they are discharged as they pass through the slot. I now have no issues with returns. I know machines can break, but right now it appears the machines can do a better job than people. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 When I get an overdue notice on something I have turned in at my library I call and they look for it. It has happened a couple of times and they have always found the book, removed the charge and called to apologize. We have a very gracious library staff, even if they are imperfect. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThisIsTheDay Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I work at a library, and this, unfortunately, is not unusual. It can happen for a variety of reasons. Occasionally, the scanner will read wrong and drop a number off of the bar code--but it's never one specific scanner. Sometimes people will return books by placing them on the counter instead of the book return slots underneath the counter. In the case of DVDs, which are handled differently than books, we sometimes have overzealous volunteers who don't understand/realize that the material hasn't been checked in before returning DVDs to the shelves. And of course, sometimes the staff is distracted, and a book may not be checked in. There's a much greater chance it will happen to a patron who checks out a lot of material. I would encourage anyone who *thinks* they've returned a book to ask their librarians to do a shelf-check. Shame on those employees who won't. It's kind of a library's dirty little secret, and we wish that were not the case. It's embarrassing (although I know not all libraries feel this way, they should!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 The ladies were very apologetic and told me I should have just called because they would have looked for it. I was taking the kids to lessons just a block from the library anyway, so it wasn't a big deal for me to just pop in when I dropped the kids off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeschoolingHearts&Minds Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 This has happened to us several times. But, so has having a book slide under a car seat on its way to be returned. Always check under the car seats. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grover Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 But, so has having a book slide under a car seat on its way to be returned. Always check under the car seats. ;) Yes... I've done this too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosyl Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I went to check out a book at our library last week---it wasn't even from that library, but another within the same system. It hadn't been checked in, but shelved. I dislike these computer systems. I have also found several of mine not checked in, but shelved. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Yes, this has happened to us before. Glad it worked out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I posted a story once about that happening to me. I never thought of calling the library since I check out hundreds of books and the library never made a mistake before. At least I got a clean house out of the bargain. :) ETA: My thread on this very subject: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=399875&highlight=Library Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allearia Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 This has happened to me a bunch of times. There was also a time I returned a book that I knew was in perfect shape, and somehow it got wet after we returned it so we had to pay for it. Even though I understood, I was really mad that they did not consider that we were telling the truth. We check out hundreds of books a year. We weren't even arguing about paying, just explaining that we wouldn't have put a wet book in the return slot. It was raining so I bet somehow the water got in. It is a pain to have to go in and return in person but that was very expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 I posted a story once about that happening to me. I never thought of calling the library since I check out hundreds of books and the library never made a mistake before. At least I got a clean house out of the bargain. :) ETA: My thread on this very subject: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/showthread.php?t=399875&highlight=Library It might have been your thread I was referring to. I remembered reading about it, so as soon as DH texted me, I thought "no way, I KNOW that particular book was in the library bag" because it actually surprised me to find it in there. Usually I have to send the kids throughout the house to gather up their books to return, so when I picked up the library bag and saw that particular book in there I was flabbergasted that someone had actually put. it. away. ?!? And like I said in my original post, it's waaaaay too hot to be cleaning the house. :tongue_smilie: I would be one grumpy whatsit if I had ripped apart the house looking for it, only to find it at the library. You saved a lot of people from having to deal with a grumpy me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I had just the opposite situation awhile back. We 'lost' a book here at home. DD was suppose to be reading a couple chapters a week and could NOT find it to save her life, or ours. I was looking at our account online and discovered that the book was NOT checked out. Apparently we returned it with a stack of books (STACK) that we returned last month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 That has happened so many, many times to us over the years. I just call & ask the librarians to do a 'shelf check'. They've had it every time. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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