"Book Her, Danno!"

Here's a story right out of an episode of Seinfeld. From the Des Moines Register:

An overdue library book called "The Freedom Writers Diary" briefly cost an Independence woman her freedom Thursday.

Jesup police arrested Shelly Koontz, 39, on a fifth-degree theft charge because she allegedly failed to return the collection of essays about the struggles of inner-city Long Beach, Calif., high school students.

The book's retail price is $13.95.

"Theft is theft," said Jesup Police Sgt. Chris Boos, "whether it's a 50-cent candy bar, a $13 library book or a $200 TV."

Koontz is free after posting a $250 bond at the Buchanan County Jail. Efforts to reach her by telephone Friday were unsuccessful.

Tom McGlaughlin, president of the Jesup library board, said pursuing criminal charges against a patron for an overdue book is unusual, but the circumstances were also out of the ordinary. He declined to elaborate.

I'm not sure what surprises me more, the fact that such a big stink was made over one book, or that Iowans really take their reading seriously.