And Now for Something Really Big

I'm Sorry, How Much Did You Say She Took?

Borrower goes wild at library
Akron woman accused of taking 1,000 items

By Phil Trexler and Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writers

Published on Friday, Dec 21, 2007

By police accounts, she had 34 kids, each with a love for DVDs, books and toys.

In reality, Tammie Ware of Akron had just four kids.

And, according to officials, she also had more than 1,000 ''borrowed'' library items, ranging from movies to books to music and toys inside her home.

Some of the items were obtained with a library card, others were not. The items belonging to the Akron-Summit County Public Library and collected by police this week rang up at more than $15,000, plus about $1,000 in overdue return fees, according to police reports and library officials.

Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards said it took a pickup truck to haul the materials from Ware's home this week, but the library has its stuff back, generally in good condition.

As for Ware, 36, she is facing charges of theft and receiving stolen property. She is free on bond. No phone number could be found to reach her for comment.

Hmm...There is, according to Dante, a circle of Hell reserved for people like this. Or, I could say, she must love her children very much...ha-ha-ha...

This is the stuff of urban legends. Folk songs will be written about this woman. Rightly so. At a certain point you stop being disgusted and secretly admire anyone who could run a scam like this with kids.

You will remember in Oliver Twist Fagin (Fagin was based on real-life Jewish fence Ikey Soloman,1758-1850) paternal instincts where as good as this woman's. Though I doubt a musical will be made based on her exploits any time soon.

A book on the subject is crying out to be written, however. Something on the abuse of the library systems by patrons, and the librarians secret fantasies about how they would seek revenge on selfish people.

Any thoughts?

Here is a link to the story:

http://www.ohio.com/news/12695697.html