A lost book that I knew nothing about.
By cream97
@cream97 (29087)
United States
May 31, 2011 4:49pm CST
My son's teacher told me that my son is missing a book called,
Spiderman verses the Vulture." She asked me to bring the book back to school. But the thing about this is that, I have never seen this book come into my house at all. Nor, has my son ever brought this library book inside of his book bag either. I wrote the teacher a note telling her this. Now today, I have a sheet that specifies that my son owes $9.26 on this library book. I am going to write her note again, telling her that when my son goes to the library again, to please make sure that she tells me. I also want to know what books or materials that he checks out from the library too. This will ensure that when he comes back at home with the book, I can at least see it for my own self. If my son owed for a book, his father and I will pay for it, but when the teacher does not tell me anything about him even checking out a book, then that is how his book gets lost or stolen without me or his father even knowing about it. There is no library book at my home, I have checked in his book container. When she first sent the note to me, I told my son that I have never seen this book before brought even in his book bag. My son says that the book is at the school. It is not on the school bus, so it can be anywhere except at home our home. I don't like it when the teacher does not inform me of things, because if something valuable turns up missing, lost or stolen, as my son's parents we are held responsible for the library book that he has lost. (As far as paying for the library book is concerned). I believe that his teacher should tell me that my son has checked out a library book and the name of this library book so that I can be made aware of it. This will avoid any and all confusion. I don't have a problem with paying for something that I know about, rather than paying for something that I don't know anything about. But the point is, my son owes on a library book whether I knew about it or not. I am sure that it has to be paid before, he can ever check out another library book again too.
4 people like this
9 responses
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
1 Jun 11
I understand your frustration on this one. The kids check books out but do not tell you that they even brought them home til an over due notice is in their bag. I have my oldest try to keep the books she checks out in her desk. Otherwise we try to put everything in the same place everytime or in back pack right away after reading them.
2 people like this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
31 May 11
Hi cream 
They probably have the book somewhere in the library and someone did not check it back in and now they can only recall the day he probably used it in the library. The book could possibly be back on the shelves. I would ask the teacher to please have the librarian recheck again. As you would know what books he brings home. Include in the note that you thoroughly check his back and this book as never made it to your home.
They probably have the book somewhere in the library and someone did not check it back in and now they can only recall the day he probably used it in the library. The book could possibly be back on the shelves. I would ask the teacher to please have the librarian recheck again. As you would know what books he brings home. Include in the note that you thoroughly check his back and this book as never made it to your home. 
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
2 Jun 11
I agree, there should be some sort of slip like a pink slip letting the parents know when their child has taken out a book for the reasons that you've already stated. I do have a suggestion though. See how much the book costs at the store and see if it's cheaper than what they're wanting to charge you so you can go which ever route you want to go.... the cheaper route. I say that because I think $9.26 is a little steep but I could be wrong so do check into that.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Jun 11
I can't believe that the teacher can keep track of it all herself. The library should be able to give you a print out proving whether he took out the book or not. All the teacher would have had to do is send the slip from the library home with your son when the book was taken from the library. I don't that the teacher can take care of each student as if he/she were her own but she could send the slip home so you were sure of the book being taken to begin with.
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Jun 11
That is aggravating when something like that happens. They make us sign that stuff at the first of the year saying that we are responsible for school and library books, so that covers them. I think that it would be nice to be told what they checked out and when it was due back.
I used to get this schedule when my kids were younger that listed the days they would do library or gym or whatever. I would hang it up on the calender in the kitchen and when it was library days, I would ask to see the book they checked out. Those books can be very expensive sometimes. My daughter is in an AR thing and she was constantly bringing different books home last year. It is alot to try and keep up with sometimes.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
1 Jun 11
This is actually a constant problem in my house. My son would check out a book in their library, which I would know nothing about, and then it would lay down somewhere in the house. The only time I would know about it is when I get a note saying that the book is overdue!
I've paid for a lost book more than a few times.
@AmbiePam (85522)
• United States
1 Jun 11
I don't want to be contradictary, but that would be really hard for a teacher to do. Write down every book a student checks out and send the list to the parents. Not to mention half of those notices about books would never make it to the parents because the child would lose it or forget to give it to the parent. I checked out books all the time at the library, when our class would go about once a week. My teacher never asked to see the book(s). I was held accountable for whatever I checked out, and if it was late, I had to pay the fine. I just think it might be easier if your osn only checked out books when he was with you? Because the teacher might not be able to keep track of all of her students books, but because you'd be there with your son in person, you'd know for sure.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
1 Jun 11
Hi. AmbiePam. I would rather me be with my son when he checks out a library book, if this is possible. If not, I would like for the teacher to at least let me know that he has checked out a library book from the library. I think that is okay because now I know the name of the book and when it needs to be returned to the library. But, I have found out today that, his class does not take the library books home with them. When they check them out, they leave the library books in their class. So, I was right all along, my son never brought this book from school at all. It stayed in his classroom, then it was returned back to the library.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
1 Jun 11
Yes it is. I was told by the librarian today, that being that my son and another student checked out the same book, then that means that, they won't charge either one of them for the library book. It is just impossible for them to figure out what is what, so they will have to write this fee off as a lost book.
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
1 Jun 11
If the teacher is to tell each parents what the student did or borrowed or taken from school that would be very much tasking for the part of a single teacher as to the number of kids. You cannot expect the teacher to remember everything since the transaction or the 'borrowing' happened between the librarian and your son.
I think it's best that you ask him about it out front and let him look for it too. I guess you would need to pay for it in order that his clearances would be signed.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
31 May 11
My son's school library said he had some books out last year that I know were returned. The school has several copies of every book in their library(they have numbers on them to tell them apart) and when I went looking into it I found that the wrong slip had been put back in the books.
1 person likes this
