Topic
And the people wo not pay the fines nor give the book back.What can the libraries do?Can they call the police on them?Sue them?Or there are nothing they can do?
what can libraries do to people who don't return their books?
Libraries can take out judgments and issue fines that the courts will enforce./
what can libraries do to people who don't return their books?
After several attempts to contact the person & have the books returned & or fines paid, many libraries will turn over the worst cases to a collection agency. Which can harm the person is credit. There have been cases where people have been arrested /prosecuted.
Having said that, many librarians r bothered by pursuing such drastic measures; it goes contrary to the librarians' nature to help people. Most libraries have a Library Amnesty Day (or week) every so often in which patrons can return long overdue books without any penalties. In the end, the Library really only wants their materials back.
NYC Man Arrested for 570 Overdue Books
http://ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/1999/october1999/nycmanarrested.cfm
Overdue books affect not only libraries, but patrons
http://timesdaily.com/article/20071005/NEWS/710050330/1011/RSS&source=RSS
Metro libraries go after deadbeat patrons
http://detnews.com/2005/metro/0508/10/B01-276469.htm