North Adams Library Cracking Down on Overdue Book Scofflaws

The library trustees had an update on efforts to recover missing thousands of dollars in overdue books.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The public library is cracking down on scofflaws who owe hundreds of dollars in fines for not returning books for years.

It's resulted in the arrest of one patron.

Library Director Mindy Hackner said she has been going after overdue bills from patrons who have not returned materials. The focus has been on ongoing bills from 2013, some of which are upwards of $600.

After notifying the person by sending the overdue notice, then emails, phone calls, and letters, legal action takes place.

Hackner told the library trustees on Monday that a former patron who ignored her communication attempts and failed to appear in court was arrested recently. She has since met with the person and settled the matter.

Hackner said that to her surprise, the materials had been returned at some point between when she checked to make sure they were still missing before taking legal action and when the individual met with her.   

"I don't know who took their books in, but they didn't report to me and they didn't take any paperwork," she said. "It dropped through the system and there was no notification from the court."

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.