Damaged Library Material Policy

Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish procedures for the disposal of circulating library materials that are damaged beyond repair and paid for by library users. The damaged materials will be made available to the customer who damaged them, donated to a local non-profit organization or destroyed.

Identification of Damaged Materials
Library materials that are returned to the library damaged beyond repair will be withdrawn from the library collection. Items that are wet, moldy, torn, or stained, etc. cannot be returned to the shelves and must be replaced. Library staff will determine when an item is damaged beyond repair and must be replaced. Customers are charged a damage fee for the item or may replace the item with new property of the same type at the discretion of staff.

Disposal of Damaged Materials
Customers who wish to keep the damaged item may do so upon receipt of the damage fee. Otherwise, materials will be donated to a local non-profit organization, if deemed saleable, or destroyed.