It was reported that Brakpan resident Ammarentia Badenhorst (26) was accused of damaging a library book when she visited the library to return her books.
She was told that one of the books was damaged and that the library would not accept it back.
In addition, 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.
She was not allowed to return the book.
“I love to read and have great respect for books,” she said.
“I will gladly pay for a book if it is damaged by me, but I will most certainly not pay for another person.”
Although reasonably new, the book had been taken out by two other people before Ammarentia.
According to metro spokesperson Sam Modiba, the matter is under investigation.
“A staff member was doing his normal duties when the book was returned,” he said.
“This is a new book that has only circulated twice before and he discovered that it was wet and was stained.
“The patron was informed that the book was damaged and the matter was also brought to the attention of the senior librarian.
“According to the patron, the book was already damaged when she took it out and when asked if her child could have spilled something on it, she denied it.”
Modiba explained that books are checked for any type of damage by the staff members on issue and return and before being shelved again.
If the book is damaged the staff member should write a note on the date sheet to that effect.
“Should library media be lost or damaged or deemed to be lost, the member against whose membership card such media was borrowed shall, in addition to any fine or other applicable charges, be liable for payment of the prescribed purchase or replacement cost, as the case may be,” he said.
“The member may replace the item with an identical copy of equal value and ISBN acceptable to the Regional Manager: Library and Information Services.
“The replacement cost of the book is R180.
“The staff member and librarian in charge concluded according to this by-law.”
