This would never have happened to Hermione (Zoë)

Isn’t it such a great feeling taking all your library books back when you’ve finished an essay? Last Monday I filled my bag up with the nine books I’d borrowed for my Cinema Studies essay, and took them back to the library, bidding them farewell (or should that be good riddance?) as I put them through the chute.

Imagine my horror when one of them was still listed on my borrowing record.

At first I thought maybe it was just a mistake on the portal. But the library catalogue said the same thing. I started getting worried. Had I lost it somewhere between college and the library? It seemed unlikely to me, considering that the bag the books were in was packed pretty tightly. But of course, I couldn’t remember putting that exact book through the return chute. I looked all over my room (which didn’t take too long, as it’s small) and it definitely wasn’t there.

I knew it could have been a mistake on the behalf of the library, but I figured that trying to blame them was a bad idea, when it could easily have been my fault. I’ve never been the sort of person to lose library books, so I was beginning to freak out. Also, I wasn’t sure what sort of fine I’d been facing if I had lost it, which was adding to my worries. Luckily it wasn’t due until the 19th, so I hadn’t gotten any yet. But how much are you fined if you lose a book? I really don’t know.

I sent an email on the weekend, but didn’t get a reply, so today decided to bite the bullet and go to the library in person. On the way there I retraced my steps, all the way up to the computer lab on the fourth floor of Union House and back again. No book. I’d hoped maybe the book might have somehow gotten itself stuck in the return chute, but when I checked out the set up, it looked unlikely.

I was hesitant about going up to the desk and proclaiming “I think I lost a book”, so I decided just to go up and see if it was on the shelf, in case it hadn’t been checked in properly. And there it was! Just sitting on the shelf next to some other books that I’d brought back. I could have fainted with relief.

So I took it down to the front desk, and was told to go and put it through the chute. I then spent the morning checking the portal obsessively to make sure that it had been checked in properly this time.

From now on I’m going to be extra careful with my library books. And count each book I put through the chute so I can be sure I’ve taken it back.