San Francisco Initiates Unusual Method of Dealing with Certain Book Thefts

Many libraries have eliminated late fees over the past few years. Now, the San Francisco Public Library has taken another step. They may not even require you to return some books. That will be the case if legislation recently proposed by Supervisor Matt Dorsey is approved. What gives?

This arises out of a discovery made last year about which books were most often being stolen, or at least, disappearing from the library shelves. They were books dealing with recovery from drug or alcohol abuse. One of the most popular books was the classic answer to alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous, or the “Big Book,” written by Bill W. almost a century ago. This led to an experiment last year at city libraries. They would start giving these books away, no questions asked, not even a library card required. San Francisco authorities realized they had a bigger problem on their hands than petty theft, and looked for a way to help.

According to the Associated Press, City Librarian Michael Lambert said, “The city and county of San Francisco, like many urban environments, is seeing a lot of individuals who are struggling with addiction, substance abuse disorder, so we recognize there was an opportunity for the public library to do our part.”

San Francisco, like most American cities (and rural areas too) has a drug problem. The first step to recovery is acknowledging you have a problem. Wanting to read these books is a sign the person recognizes they have a problem and wants to cure it. The libraries initiated this program to make it as easy as possible to get help. They also provide referrals to places that can provide personal help, but there isn't always enough room for all who need it. The ability for an addict to begin the road to recovery even if personal assistance is not available is an opportunity not to be wasted. As those who are addicted often end up out on the street, and those on the street often seek shelter in a library, libraries are a particularly good place to start. It may not be a typical library service, but it is a needed one, and libraries that are willing to assist in defeating this scourge deserve the support and praise of the community.

Government has shown a willingness to spend money on more law enforcement, longer prison sentences, walls and razor wire on the border. It doesn't work. As long as there is a demand for drugs, there will always be a supply. Didn't we lean that during Prohibition? But, end the demand and the supply will go away. Programs that seek to help addicts recover, and learn why people become addicted in the first place so that the cause can be eliminated, are the only real hope we have. Thank you, San Francisco, and we hope other communities follow your lead and reach out to those who are addicted or are likely to become. Too many lives are being destroyed, families broken. We need all the help we can get.