Late fees for unreturned books?

While I was renovating my place, I accidentally tossed out some books that I later realized were actually library property. Now, I’ve received a notice stating that "we will pursue legal action against you."

Does anyone know what kind of legal measures they can actually take in this situation?

P.S.
To be honest, I haven't really read physical books for several years now, which is why I cleared out all my paper copies. The whole concept of libraries and printed books feels somewhat foreign to me these days.

Technically, you could face legal action here by filing a motion for criminal prosecution. Once the police take that report, they’ll pass it along to the District Attorney, who then decides whether to pursue the charges themselves or leave it to the library to file a private suit against you. Either way, expect them to come after you for damages—essentially the full replacement value of the books.👍

P.S.: Just because you find the whole concept "bizarre" doesn't give you a free pass to rob everyone else of the joy of reading.👍

Brian Edwards6 said:Technically, you could face legal action here by filing a motion for criminal prosecution. Once the police take that report, they’ll pass it along to the District Attorney, who then decides whether to pursue the charges themselves or leave it to the library to file a private suit against you. Either way, expect them to come after you for damages—essentially the full replacement value of the books.👍

P.S.: Just because you find the whole concept "bizarre" doesn't give you a free pass to rob everyone else of the joy of reading.👍

Anyone with an internet connection and even a modicum of search skills can essentially download just about any book they desire for free. It’s quite remarkable, really. Even if one doesn't own a dedicated e-reader, I suppose almost any smartphone these days is more than capable of handling those file formats without much trouble at all.


I find myself increasingly convinced that the continued existence of physical libraries has become somewhat obsolete. In an era where almost any piece of information can be summoned instantly via a smartphone, I suppose one has to wonder if maintaining these large, brick-and-mortar institutions still holds much practical value. Perhaps there is a sentimental argument to be made for them, but from a purely functional standpoint, the necessity seems to be fading. It’s particularly advantageous because you can essentially maintain an infinite number of copies. I suppose that means you'll never run into a situation where a book is unavailable for loan simply because every single copy is checked out.🙂

rapidskipper11 said:Anyone with an internet connection and even a modicum of search skills can essentially download just about any book they desire for free. It’s quite remarkable, really. Even if one doesn't own a dedicated e-reader, I suppose almost any smartphone these days is more than capable of handling those file formats without much trouble at all.


I find myself increasingly convinced that the continued existence of physical libraries has become somewhat obsolete. In an era where almost any piece of information can be summoned instantly via a smartphone, I suppose one has to wonder if maintaining these large, brick-and-mortar institutions still holds much practical value. Perhaps there is a sentimental argument to be made for them, but from a purely functional standpoint, the necessity seems to be fading. It’s particularly advantageous because you can essentially maintain an infinite number of copies. I suppose that means you'll never run into a situation where a book is unavailable for loan simply because every single copy is checked out.🙂

Sometimes it really pays to take a second to think things through before you start dropping pearls of wisdom on Reddit.
It’s honestly pretty wild when you think about it, but just a massive chunk of all the books available online is written in English.
It’s just one of those things, isn't it? Not everyone is fluent in English, not everyone has a tablet or a smartphone handy, and let's be honest, not everyone is going to take the time to go out of their way and read what international authors are putting out there. There are just too many barriers in the way for everyone to be on the same page.
By the way, you really could have just donated your own books to any local library if you felt like it.