Book Report

Stacks of Excuses

Less than 10 percent of the student bodyis ever billed for an overdue?hook, according fo Steve Snyder, the library's circuiation and billing coordinator. But becausethe average chargefor a lost book is$85, students andprofessors routinelysolicit Snyder's pitywith what he calls"some pretty talltales." Borrowers takeheed. To the studentwho claimed he lost hisbook to a mugger, Snyder scoffs: "Yeah,like someone stole your Latin book on thestreet as you were translating Catallus."

The 10 worst excuses Snyder has heard:

It's lost. Sorry

• I turned them in Herb's a list of witnesses.

• A certain Siberian luisky had a taste for the g!ue in a series of Russian books.

• I was mugged in New York City.

• I left them in a: bus/airplane/train/taxi.

• Aliens prevented them from being turned in.

• I left them in the hall over spring break.

• I pin them Back directlt on the shelf.

• Bentley Theater used them as props.

• I left them on the library steps at 3 a.m.