Scammer is after
library cards so he
can steal books

The man is trying to use
bogus names to get cards so
he can take books

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

The public libraries are trying to track down someone suspected of applying for library cards using bogus IDs and possibly attempting to sell borrowed Hawaiiana materials at used-book stores.

Library officials got wind of the scam after staff at several libraries noticed someone trying to check out old or out-of-print Hawaiiana materials in the past few weeks.

Several descriptions have surfaced of one man who has tried to get a library card at Oahu libraries from Mililani to Hawaii Kai using fake or altered ID and using nearly a dozen similar names.

"It happened frequently enough that the staff realized he was going to different libraries," said state Librarian Virginia Lowell.

The public libraries rely on the good faith and trust of patrons, Lowell said. "Your friends and neighbors are negatively affected if you steal materials that we buy with your tax dollars."

"We are always hopeful that the steps we take to protect the public's interest are sufficient to discourage abuse and encourage responsible use of our libraries," Lowell said. But any system can be subverted.

In each of the cases, the individual has never been able to come up with an acceptable form of ID and has been turned away.

A photo ID of the suspected individual was photocopied by a staffer at one of the libraries, but the staffer refused to issue a card because the ID was not the type accepted by the libraries.

The libraries require a form of picture ID such as a driver's license, state or military ID or passport to sign up for a library card. In some cases, the libraries have an option to ask for further proof of a current address, such as a check imprinted with the person's name and address.

Used and rare book dealers, the University of Hawaii and community college libraries all have been notified of the scam and given a description of the suspect and a list of names that he has attempted to use.

A couple of used book stores have reported being approached by a man fitting the description given by the librarians.

In at least one instance, he was turned away because the books he was attempting to sell had been altered.

In the past week, the library's investigation has turned up no physical sightings of the alleged suspect. "It appears we've closed off all his avenues if indeed he's stealing library material in order to sell to second-hand book dealers," Lowell said.

The library's automated system can track patrons who have borrowed large numbers of Hawaiiana materials, she said.

Those records can be matched with titles reported by used book dealers. Then whenever the patron tries to check out a book, the patron's computer record will alert library staff not to allow the person to borrow any materials.

Used-book-store buyers do not accept books that show they belong in the public libraries.

"We're trained to look out for certain things and don't accept stolen items or library items," said Carrie Abe, manager of the book department at the Market City Jelly's.

A woman who walked into Jelly's earlier this month was turned away after she tried to sell two boxes of Hawaiiana material with front pages ripped out or property stamps on the bindings crossed out. One of the books had Manoa Library stamped on it.

The woman said she had purchased the books at a garage sale.

Last December, the libraries lost more than $45,000 worth of CDs to thieves who used stolen library cards to check them out and never returned them.