With some of the books only costing around $10 or $12, she said the cost would not be worth the effort.

If the problem continues to increase, she said they will have to look at other options. She said this is not a new issue, but one that has just grown with the population.

“More people means a larger need and more books means the higher likelihood of them not being returned,” Lemon said.

Mary Williams believes this to be true. She is the director of the Sigourney Public Library.

She said since the community and library are much smaller than Ottumwa’s, they do not have to worry as much about non-returned items.

“It happens and it is an issue,” she said. “But it’s not a major issue.”

She said they too have the same routine as the Ottumwa library — making calls each morning to patrons reminding them they have overdue materials.

Lemon said she’s not sure what else to do.

“We are willing to work with people if it is the fines they are worried about,” she said. “And our fines don’t keep accumulating. The fines stop at $3 per item.”

Ottumwa Library Board of Trustees Secretary Garnet Brandt said they have even tried a day of amnesty program where they waive all fines if the items are brought back.

“Books are expensive and we have to replace them when they are not returned,” she said.

Brandt said the money that is spent buying new books and replacing non-returned items could be put to better use.

“We could spend more on avenues of communication, more computers with Internet and other reference sources,” she said.

She said it is disappointing that people do not have enough respect to return what they borrow.

“We just want our books back so other people can use them,” Lemon said. “The fines are not the concern.”