More than 27,000 Tainan Public Library books have been overdue for more than 100 days, including three books that were checked out 32 years ago.
The most overdue item is a book of decorative font designs that was checked out in October 1991, library data showed.
The next oldest were both checked out in December 1991, about the computerization of international trade and quality control.
Photo courtesy of the Tainan Public Library
About one-quarter of overdue books are related to language learning, while children’s books comprise about 24 percent, data showed.
The library said it notifies borrowers of an upcoming due date seven days in advance over e-mail and the library app, and sends another notice when an item is overdue.
If the item has a hold or is less than a year overdue, a librarian will also call every week as a reminder, it said.
Borrowers with an item that is more than a year overdue would receive notices in the mail, it added.
Penalties include overdue fees and a suspension of borrowing rights, the library said.
Visitors would be unable to borrow for the number of days the item is overdue for up to 60 days, and fined NT$1 per day up to NT$60, it said, adding that once the fee is paid, visitors may continue borrowing as usual.
From librarians’ experience, most of the items that have not been returned for a long time were lost, and the borrower wants to avoid paying compensation, library director Yang Fu-ling (楊馥菱) said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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