Long Overdue and Nine States Away: Library Book in Search of Home
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Oct.3, 2014)
Berkley Library Director Matt Church is always happy when past due library materials make their way back into the collection so others can enjoy them. But a 1941 book called “Greatness in Music” by Alfred Einstein was particularly delightful.
Jane Cross, Master Gunnery Sergeant, United States Marine Corp.Chief, US Marine Band Library, contacted Church about the book.
“I have been going through a collection of books donated after one of our former conductors passed away. I happened to notice that “Greatness in Music” by Alfred Einstein (c)1941 was actually your property with your stamps and card pocket, and did not appear to be a deaccession from your collections. The due date stamp says May 26, 1971. Call number 780.9 Ei68,” Cross wrote in an email. “Would you like us to ship this back to you? I hope the fine of “3 cents per day except Sundays and holidays” will be excused.”
Books these days rack up a late fee of 20 cents per day, but since $3,167 would be a bit much for a book, fines stop racking up once the replacement cost of an item is reached. The patron then gets billed for this cost, and it could even go to a collection agency.
In this case, however, none of that actually applies, since upon closer inspection Baker realized that the book had been checked out from the Berkeley Library in California, not Berkley, Michigan.
Mix-ups like this happen. “Years ago, we received a box of buttons that “Berkeley” had made but incorrectly printed “Berkley”–so they were perfect for our use here! Just a few weeks ago someone called to have us hold a book for her. She called back later in the day and said her GPS said it’d take more than 10 hours to get here. She was calling from Berkley, Massachusetts and didn’t realize she was talking to the library in Michigan,” Church said.
While “Greatness in Music” is not offered at the Berkley Library, it can be easily found for purchase online, with used versions running as low as $1.48.
For more information on the Berkley Public Library see their website at http://www.berkley.lib.mi.us.