Angeles Mesa Branch Library: LAPL

This is the closest library to my house. It’s very convenient to print things out or check out DVDs instead of going to a red box. They always have a bulletin right when you walk in with many resources and upcoming events. It’s definitely improved over the years and it’s a great library to have in our neighborhood.

Could look much more encouraging and inspiring!

WARNING — be careful when checking out from this library-​make sure your items are checked out under your account and not someone else’s — and make sure to check your account after checking out from here to make sure they didn’t ring someone else’s stuff up on your account.
I called there on Monday to put a DVD on reserve and have it sent to another library. I do this quite often from libraries all around Los Angeles — hello free rentals at the LAPL beats $ 5 a pop at Blockbuster — and never had a problem. But Tuesday I check my account and there are 2 books checked out on my account that I’ve never heard of — one is checked out from this library, and another was ordered from another branch, being sent to this library.
Now when I emailed the library to tell them this, they took the first book off my account. But they wrote that «Unfortunately, because „ONE DAY I SAW A BLACK KING“ is in transit the computer will not let us to take the book off your account. After it arrives to our branch you can give us a call (323) 292‑4328 and ask us to discharge it from your account.»
I didn’t order this book, I wanted it taken off my account now. So I wrote them to call the branch it was ordered from and ask them to take it off. They still refused.
So this is how this branch operates — either 1) the library rep who put the DVD on hold knowingly used my card to steal books from the library under my name or 2) a library rep didn’t exit my account and checked out the next person in line under my card. Either one is unacceptable. And it’s also unacceptable that I have to watch my account every day now and see when this stupid book comes in (ok I haven’t read it so maybe it’s not stupid) and call and have them take it off.
In addition the library rep who emailed me back didn’t give his/​her name the first time, and didn’t the 2^nd time after I asked for it.
Don’t get me wrong, this is a government institution and I’m getting free rentals of books and movies. But still, that doesn’t give you the right to check out stuff on my account. And in addition, someone at this library should care that they either have a thief or an incompetent rep and look into this and investigate it. Yet, they don’t seem to care.