We Want Our Books Back

To the Editor:

[Re: “An Expensive Way to Stamp Out a Debt” Letter Hive 6/12/09] Mr Caracciolo, first, sometimes letters that seem absurd do need to be mailed home. As for your granddaughter — who by the way is terrific, she did indeed return her book weeks ago, and we do have a pay-all-fines policy before graduation for all departments. Such letters went home to seniors, only. There is a glitch with our technology that a new system will fix next year, but let’s not split hairs over nothing. Meanwhile, please know very few (if any more) notices were wasted to reconcile five-cent fines. We’re not interested in nickel-and-diming patrons; we want our books back before summer and graduation.

I’m sure you appreciate our schools and our stewardship of your taxes. Sadly, others in Newtown do not. Being pennywise and pound foolish can contribute to stuff like this, but with far greater consequences than net 44 cents. I don’t want to tell you how long it took me to write this letter at work in defense of my colleagues and administrators, due in no small part to an undersized library in an overcrowded school, in a town that doesn’t always understand the sacrifices we make for Newtown’s kids. But who’s counting?

Jackson Blossom

NHS Librarian

12 Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook                                     June 15, 2009