Yonkers Public Library

“A Yonkers woman has been charged with stealing more than $160,000 from the Yonkers Public Library over seven years — money that came in large part from overdue book fines,” according to this report in the New York Times.

Margo Reed, 53, worked in the Yonkers Public Library’s business office. Her job entailed collecting overdue fines and other revenue from the library’s three branches. The authorities told the Times that “Ms. Reed was supposed to keep the money she collected in a locked bag and deposit it with the city, but on numerous occasions she secretly stole from it.”

According to the Westchester County district attorney’s office’s statement, “Ms. Reed began stealing the library money in January 2004, and covered her tracks each time she stole by altering library records… Her thefts added up to $163,582.”

She was arraigned on a charge of felony grand larceny, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison — which is a lot of time to read. She was released on her own recognizance.