The "Buns Of Steel" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just walked out of the Manheim Township Public Library after checking out a few books for some leisure reading.  The library used to be within walking distance of my home on Harrington Drive, but my wife and I decided to move to a retirement community and we now have to drive to the library when we want to find reading material.  The reason for my telling you this is due to reading an article that was written 25 years ago about librarians having a reputation for being soft-spoken, but when it comes to overdue books, it's best not to cross their path.  Story goes back to March of 1998 when the Lancaster County libraries had nearly 30,000 overdue items listed in their system as missing for more than three months.  Those numbers, which amounted to about 5% of the total collection overdue, spurred the county library system to enlist the help of a collection agency to get the missing items.....as well as fines or replacement costs.....from the delinquent borrowers.  The library  had planned to send letters to patrons with overdue books and if no response was received, they would be turned over to an agency that would send letters before ultimately resorting to fines and an appearance before a district justice.  Somehow, they either wanted the item returned or have you pay for a new one. The missing items ranged from children's books such as "Curious George Goes to the Hospital" to classics such as "Withering Heights" to video items such as a VHS copy of "Buns of Steel."  But, perhaps the most relevant item on the list was a book called "A Children's Book About Being Forgetful."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.