Library taking overdue book borrowers to court

If you owe the Jasper Library for unpaid fines, get ready to pay up.  That’s the message that’s being delivered by the Jasper Library Board as the members have voted to move ahead with taking the offenders to small claims court.

The library held an amnesty program in the month of December, which Library Director Rita Douthitt says was very successful. In fact, Douthitt says it’s not the money that they want, although it is substantial – $55,000 over 5 to 6 years – the library just wants their borrowed materials back.

But, since they have exhausted all other means, small claims court is their last resort.

The board passed a motion to also seek legal and court costs for each instance where a case has to be filed to get materials back.

The first step in the process is demand letters that will go out in the mail on Monday, March 10th.  Then, Library Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt says that if that does not produce the return of borrowed materials, small claims cases will be filed 30 days afterwards.