I have followed this thread with interest.  Part of my professional responsibility is to have a record of who checks out what and to remind them (gently) if it has not been returned in the allotted time period.  If they do not return it after the notification, we simply deduct the cost of the item from their next pay check.  And yes, we do tell people that we will deduct it.
 
If I kept a $30 video past its time from my local video store, the video store is within its rights (and states that) to use whatever means necessary to retrieve their property.  I might be angry at the video store, but if I wanted another video I would probably go there again.
 
If I don't pay my property taxes, then the county will at some point seize the property for non-payment.  I may not be happy about that either, but I should have paid the taxes.  I would be very unhappy and embarrassed if the police arrested me for not returning library material, but I did agree to do so when I signed up for the library card.  Librarians have nothing for which they should be ashamed when they uphold the rules set out for the borrowing of materials.
 
Handcuffs seems a little extreme, but it was not the librarians who handcuffed the person, it was the local police.  
 
 
 
Carolyn Baker, MLS
Head Medical Librarian
Baptist Health Little Rock
501-202-1109 (Phone)
501-202-1318 (FAX)
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