The Baytown, Texas public library takes its lending rules very seriously. A woman was arrested for having an overdue book.
Making sure her eight-year-old son, Jose, is a proficient reader is important to Joanne Ibarra, so books are also important. They just might not be coming from Baytown's Sterling Library anymore.
"I don't want to see them. I don't want to see any more books, not right now," laughed Ibarra.
Ibarra laughs it off, but it was a serious situation that all started Tuesday when a Baytown officer pulled her over for a traffic violation near Commerce and West Texas Avenue. The officer issued three traffic citations for disregarding a traffic sign, no insurance, and no driver's license. But then he found a warrant and the cuffs came out.
Ibarra couldn't believe the reason for her arrest.
"I didn't know you could go to jail for not returning a library book," she said.
"It's a violation of the city ordinance," explained Baytown Assistant City Manager Kelvin Knauf.
Knauf said both the city attorney and the library sent Ibarra notices about her overdue book and her $118 fine.
After months with no response, a warrant was issued for her arrest and the rest is history. Ibarra says she never received the notices because she moved, but she accepts responsibility for her actions, even though she thinks the consequence was extreme.
Those Baytown city officials really don't fool around when it comes to the security of the town's precious library books.
