MICHAEL JACKSON OVERDONE

If it isn’t the City of L.A. bugging Michael Jackson about giraffes, it’s the County of Ventura nagging him about overdue library books.

Jackson was staying at an Ojai spa earlier this year when the Ojai Public Library, just across the street, got a call asking if he might be able to drop in after hours to stroll the stacks. Library loitering during regular hours is apparently tough for a megastar.

Librarian Tony Neuron was amenable.

Under cloak of darkness and a blue satin jacket, Jackson and a bodyguard slipped in, spent half an hour in the children’s and music sections, and checked out three books on a temporary card, including two on Michelangelo. He also looked through a picture book on himself in the juvenile section.

When one of the books, “The World of Great Composers,” became overdue, the library routinely sent Jackson a one-week overdue notice. Then a three-week late notice. Then a six-week notice. Eventually, the book was declared lost.

Then the library got a call from a Jackson assistant. Could Jackson buy the book?

Nope, said the librarian. Libraries can’t sell their wares. Besides, the book is out of print.

Shortly thereafter, the book arrived with a $2 fine--and an $18 donation, which went into a fund for the library’s Secret Garden.