December 10, 2008
Letter to Editor/Fowler Community:
After going to the “end of our rope” trying to recover over 460 “overdue” books, we the Library Board decided to list the names of the individuals in the paper, which we did get several responses from –note this is after calling numerous people on the very extensive list, sending word with neighbors, asking teachers to ask students, posting lists at our library and the school libraries and bottom line spending hours of our time that could well be used doing something else. All this since May and we still have close to 400 books outstanding. Some of these books have been “overdue” for three to five years! We have discovered that when individuals do come in and say they do not have the book, we’ve discovered an error with the card being misfiled or numerous other human errors. We are not collecting any fines and if the book has been lost, we just need to know this so we can remove it from our files. We have a relatively small library and when over 400 books are out of circulation it does make a difference. If you are not sure if your name is on our overdue list, please stop by the library and help us get this list eliminated.
Within months we will be computerized in our library and this will help eliminate errors, also we are receiving a gift of over 1200 books for our library and want everyone in our community to take advantage of this very important service.
Thanks in advance for your individual help – remember total amnesty – no fines or late fees and until January 1st you will not be held liable for buying lost books if you come in and help us clear our records!
Pat Bohlender-Lowe, President, Fowler Library Board
