or Factchecking the JFP. Apparently her Laddness had what she considers to be a customer-unfriendly experience with the Hinds County Library System. At the end of an article about expanding access to local library, Ms. Ladd had a beef with the Eudora Welty Library as she was not allowed to renew her books over the phone:
*I love libraries. But I will say that what we just went through to renew four books I took out for story research here was remarkable. You have to go there to renew, for one thing. Fifteen years ago, when I was a freelancer in Colorado Springs, I used the library all the time. I could call the library to renew books.
There must be a better way, involving a telephone if not a computer or the Internet.
*I'm not wrong, Library_lover. We had four books out and called to renew over the phone. They said we had to bring them in. I couldn't get there because I had the flu. Today our executive assistant took three of the books (the other is at home), which were several days late by now, to renew. They made her call me, and I got on the phone to tell them it was me even though she had a JFP check to use for the fines. Then they didn't want her to pay all the fines including on the book I have at home because she did have it physically with her; the impression we got from the phone call and her visit there is that they only renew books or take fines on them if they physically can touch them. It was a cluster-you-know-what for her.
jhlibrary, I appreciate hearing that, but the folks who work at the libraries might need to hear it as well. Thanks much. I don't plan to give up on y'all yet; I like libraries too much to stay away. But it doesn't need to be a royal pain the ass to renew four books and try to pay the fine.
*No, Book_lover, I'm not wrong. ;-) We called, and they would not allow us to renew them over the phone. Period.
I'm told today that it was probably because we had more than two books (had four) that were overdue (only a few days), so we had to take them in. I'd argue that that is an absurd rule (10 books at two months or such, I could see), and it doesn't encourage busy people to use the library.
*I agree in principle. But in practice, and the reality of the Internet, it would help to have more user-friendly systems to encourage those of us to love libraries to keep using them. As I said, it was amazing in Colorado Springs, and we were surprised to see how difficult this was. Perhaps some new best practices are in order in the current climate to keep people coming?
*I'm not "throwing a fit," onlooker. I'm talking about dated procedures that might keep people from using the library. I like it, so I'll go back whenever I can get there.
Erica was told that you can't renew books over the phone. They did allow us to pay the whole fine when she went although they didn't want to at first, had to call me at the JFP (even though she had a JFP check), etc. It was an ordeal, in other words, over the attempt to pay fines on four books. That's the whole point, and I offered it to encourage the library to update its policies and be sure they give out good information. Trust me, I don't feel like a victim. I'm not that type of person. ;-)
And as I said, I was down with the flu for two weeks and couldn't talk for a number of days. The books came due then; when I returned to work still sick, Erica called to renew them for me over the phone. They said we had to come down there. Down there, they made it more difficult than it needed to be. See the drill?
*Ha, Bill. ;-) I guess I'm Public Enemy No. 1 because I dared to point out the frustrating process we went through. That's OK. I've gotten calls and apologies from other library folks since I posted it. Others took my constructive criticism in the spirit it was offered." Comments
Serious charges. I shudder to think we live in a county that has such an uncaring library system whose clerks would do Inspector Jauvert proud. However, I decided to do a little um, factchecking and asked library personnel about this matter when I had occasion to visit the library this week.
The Hinds County Library System WILL allow you to renew books over the phone. Got that? You can call the library, renew the book, and continue to read it to your hearts content with whatever drink you choose. HOWEVER, the library will not renew the book IF there is an overdue fine on the book MORE THAN $5.00. The fines are twenty cents per day. Thus if the clerk was following the policy, Ms. Ladd was denied renewal because her fines were more than $5.00. The library will also allow you to renew the books if the fine is paid down to where it is below $5.00 just to show you what nice people they are.
Thus it seems someone had some overdue books and is complaining that the library said sorry, you owe us some money and have to come in and pay the fines before we let you renew over the phone. Of course, when you don't pay your taxes, what are some fines on some books?And now you know the REST of the story. King-fish, Good day.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The overdue library book caper... the Rest of the story
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17 comments:
Shame on you, Donna Ladd. Return *Babar Meets Father Christmas* and those three Dr. Seuss books immediately, so other beginning readers can enjoy them!
I don't know Miz Ladd, have never seen or met her, wouldn't recognize her in a lineup and have no clue where the JFP is.
Neither have I been in a Jackson Public Library and I don't know or care about their rules.
But, I can read (regardless of what Kingfish might think) and I can be discerning (regardless of what Kangaroot might think). And after reading through this whole piece (which I usually wouldn't waste my time with) I'm left with this opinion: Miz Ladd is arrogant and seems to think she should either be above rules or, if she disagrees with rules, feels she ought to be given a temporary pass to go around them. I can't form any other opinion after reading what was included in the 'read more' part above.
Some of what she included in her rant was interesting, such as her mention several times of being really, really, really ill and at least once saying she even came to work, still ill, really, relly ill. As if. Who gives a rat's if or how ill she was or is. It's beside the point. So, the library should say, "Oh, YOU're THAT Miz Ladd. And you were ILL?"
It's also irrelevant to most of the world that she has subordinates to dispatch into the trenches with such mundane tasks as returning books and delivering her hand-signed checks. But, she obviously enjoys pointing that out too.
The only thing she left out of her communications was: 'Do you people know who I AM?'
Otherwise, I don't care at all about this woman or what her beef with all the rest of the world is.
Sounded like she needed a little cheese with the whine.
I have been a Jackson-Hinds Library user since the mid-1980s. I have never had a problem. Sure, some workers are more freindly than others, but no one has ever been unfriendly.
When I screw up. I admit it and pay the fine. Is a buck or two going to break DonnerKay?
As for the Jackson Police Department...that is another story. I have received a ticket when I wasn't speeding, they didn't want to be bothered after a violent crime was committed, yada, yada, yada.
Next she will want to take away our guns
Library attorney is William Winter's firm most likely. The Miss. Dept of Archives and History has a deal with the public library board. Let the white folks manage the history and the black folks can manage the city-county library, if Senator Frazier's sister continues as the executive director and not any militant or uppity black scholar or librarian. The purpose being not to reveal too much of the past sins of the white city fathers.
Donna Ladd thinks she is some sort of Jackson celebrity. Been to a couple of the 'Best of' parties. It is ALL about her.
Due the math.
Her book was overdue, at the minimum, 25 days.
There is only one party at fault here.
The person who didn't return or phone renew the book.
The Jackson - Hinds Library System has a computer network that allows you to renew books that you have checked out -- as long as a hold has not been placed on the book by another customer who wants to check the book out after you have returned it.
Their entire card catalog is online for perusal and allows customers to request books from other branches, place holds, etc. Very user friendly.
And I am not a library employee, just a frequent user of the system who does not like to buy books that are available for free and has no more room to store books.
Good thing she wasn't dealing with Miss Dorothy, R.I.P.
Oh, the humanity.......
The Winter Library has taken over the intellectual and cultural role from the public library. Former Mayor Ditto( Former William Winter law partner & his successor at Miss. Dept of Archives) wants to manage the civil rights history of the city instead of the city itself. Welty Library has greatly diminished in its collection, intellectual leadership, and civic status while the Winter law firm served as its board attorney.
This is a job for Bookman the Library Cop.
Pony up for the fines, cheapskate! Words are cheap, and apparently her words are cheaper than $5. Loser.
DRAMA IN THE STACKS
Foreword by the Kingfish
Afterword by Wilyum Wintah
The scene is an old country library nestled amongst large oaks and bedded azaleas. Enter the heroine, parasol in hand, pink hat tilted against the intrusion of an easterly morning sun. She's there to challenge the heavy handed establishment policy that would take coins from the proletariat for self enrichment.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK Open this damned door I demand!
"Ma'am; that's the door to the root cellar. Please, come around front to the entrance, welcome.
OFF WITH YOUR HEAD GIRL, where is this damned Eudora woman. I demand an audience with her.
LOVE LOVE LOVE The Kingfish! Nobody does what he does better than he does. I just wish he would not even mention Donner K's sick ass and give her the publicity. Donner K is an insect compared to the K'Fish!
JHLS will renew books over the phone but there is a limt on renewals. After the second renewal the books have to be brought in. This give other reader the chance to read the book. If there is no one waiting for the book you can recheck the book. It's called Jackson Hinds Library System. Serving hinds county residents. We have to treat all citizens the same. Fines out capped at $5. If we kept renewing a book forever it would not be fair to other residents waiting to read the same book. No we will not take a check from one person that belongs to another, most people appreciate that security measure. How do we know it's not stolen. I personally enjoy my job. I enjoy talking to the citizens off Hinds county. I hear all kinds of stories, joke and problems. I can't speak for other clerks but I can say this our administration don't look to kindly on mistreatment of our patrons. Patron are the reason we are employed. We work for the citizens of Hinds County and I appreciate the citizens keeping me employed. I will always give you a friendly smile and go that extra mile to ensure you have a wonderful experience when we meet
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