Read some more about this here:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/cops-in-ma-sent-to-retrieve-overdue-library-books-from-5-year-old/

They have a good clip from Seinfeld on there too.

I use to live one town over from Charlton. It is just a small country town with lots of woods. The library needs to get a new head librarian, pronto!

Charlton library defends overdue lending dragnet
Wednesday, January 4, 2012

"Hailey's borrowed books, due in October 2010, were of small value. It was her father's $100 audiobook, overdue since April 2009, that placed Tony Benoit's address among the 13 to receive police visits. The 13 homes collectively held $2,634 in significantly overdue materials.

"Charlton library officials recently decided to collect the $2,634 by exercising their rights under state law. The Benoit family was responsible for $130 of that $2,634."

<SNIP>

"Patrons receive a letter or email when a borrowed item is more than two weeks past due. After a month, a bill for the cost of replacement is mailed."

More: http://www.telegram.com/article/20120104/NEWS/101049937/0/NEWS03

Somehow the mom when she contacted the media forgot to mention the audiobook the dad had that was TWO YEARS overdue!

Maybe it was the eleven volume of Will Durant's The Story of Civilization. That would explain why he had it for over two years.

It's part of the arcana of intellectual property rights. Libraries making media available for loan comes under performance rights so they pay more.

Nice way to traumatize a child so early in life. Real nice.

The librarian should be careful 'cause karma will come 'a knockin' on her doorstep eventually.

"Let me tell you something, funny boy... You know that little stamp? The one that says New York Public Library? Well, that may not mean anything to you, but that means a lot to me. One whole helluva lot. Sure, go ahead, laugh if you want to. I've seen your type before -- flashy, making the scene, flaunting convention. Yeah, I know what you're thinking... Why's this guy making such a big stink about old library books? Let me give you a hint, junior. Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me.... Maybe. Sure, we're too old to change the world. What about that kid, sitting down, opening a book right now in a branch of the local library and finding pictures of pee-pees and wee-wees in The Cat in the Hat and The Five Chinese Brothers. Doesn't he deserve better? Look, if you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you'd better think again. This is about that kid's right to read a book without getting his mind warped. Or maybe that turns you on, Seinfeld... Maybe that's how you get your kicks... You and your goodtime buddies... I've got a flash for you, joy boy. Partytime is over."
- Lt. Bookman