We are a medium-sized law library in California. Our materials are reference-only, nothing circulates. Photocopy machines are available for use as necessary.
I am interested in the policies of other libraries regarding patron theft. Do you simply recover the item (items) and let the patron go on his way? Do you call security? Do you press charges? (In our state, theft of library materials is considered petty theft, a misdeamenor). What do you do if the patron damages a book, tears off labels or bar codes in an effort to sneak materials through the security gate?
We have a 3-M security system and all of our materials are protected with tattle-tape so we don't lose too much.
I have a personal problem with thieves, patrons that rip pages out of books, or stuff looseleaf pages into their backpacks. I would like to call security and have them tossed in jail, but... we just recover the item and let the patron leave.
Thanks for any input.
cthom@ll.co.contra-costa.ca.us
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