Abusing Community Members

<p>In late July / early August 2016, I visited the library to return a few books and to enquire a fee that had been placed on my account. I spoke to a librarian who was very rude and she clarified that there was no such charge on my card as if i was stupid although I received a notification of it. Afterwhich I handed over the books and informed them that two of the books were water damaged and the rest were taken out with the marks within the books (which they never do check). Another librarian claiming to be ther manager interrupted our conversation and started accusing me of perposefully damaging the books and then went on further to verbally abuse me and insult me in front of the other community members in a raised voice that even another community member had to ask her to take her tone down. The librarian then stated that I would have to pay over R500 for all of the books yet only two were badly damaged. After contacting the head of the KZN Library I find out that the librarian wasn't the manager and was in fact an ordinary librarian. Thereafter, I spoke to the Manager of the Malvern Library, who was well aware of the events that had occured and still made no effort to contact me, I was told that I am still liable for all of the books. I was willing to donate a few books I have at home which are still in new condition instead of paying an amount of R500 which I cannot affrod and to which the library does not want to accept, I also requested a written apology to my name from both of the librarians for the emotional distress that had resulted from the incident of which I have not received til today even after constant communication and yet I still receive reminders to pay for those books.</p> <p> </p> <p>How is it that librarians are allowed to abuse members of the community and treat them as if they are nothing but dirt to the libraries? These librarians should be setting examples for the community and should encourage reading however it seems that they are always right and everyone else is wrong. Not to mention that the value of a book that has been issued several times throught 5 - 10 years decreases in value therefore why must the full price of the book be paid? Even the Terms and Conditions of the Municipal Library states that a fee or charge will have to be paid for a damaged book not the full original price of the book.</p> <p> </p> <p>It truly disgusts me to be a part of such a community. Hopefully this does not happen to someone else.</p>