Bookworm must pay up
Brakpan resident, Ammarentia Badenhorst (26), is very disappointed with the treatment she recently received at the Brakpan library.
Ammarentia has been a member of the library for the past 10 years and she, as well as her mother, Cora Hefer, take out eight books every second week.
“We both love to read and we have always handled the books with great care as we realise that books are expensive and that we are privileged to be able to go to a library,” Ammarentia told the Herald.
On Friday, last week, she returned her books but she was told that one of the books was damaged and that the library would not accept the book back.
She was told to pay R180 for the soft cover book.
“I tried to explain to the assistant that the book was in the same condition when I took it out, but he argued with me and said that I gave the book to my child to play with,” said Ammarentia.
“This accusation was unfair as I have never given any of the books to my child, Xander (2) to play with. We have a book shelve full of books for him and he will not touch my books.”
“I tried to explain that I was not responsible but to no avail. I was not allowed to return the book and I am being held responsible for the R180.
“I love to read and have great respect for books. I will gladly pay for a book if it is damaged by me but I will most certainly not pay for another persons fault.”
Although the book is reasonably new, it clear that it was taken out by two other people before Ammarentia.
The Herald has requested comment from the library. It will be published as soon as it has been received.
