[Publib] recovering materials after a disaster

[Dusty Gres]

Our policy on this is that if borrowed materials are lost due to an event
such as fire, traffic accident, flood, etc., we provide an annotated billing
for insurance purposes and ask that the patron file with the company for
reimbursement.  If there is no insurance or insurance does not cover the
materials we ask for proof of the incident -- police report, fire report,
adjusters claim report -- and then forgive the amount, listing it as
unrecoverable debt in our audit report. We do not forgive or remove the
amount without that proof.
There are several reasons why we require proof -- first is auditors, and
that should explain itself -- and second, sadly, the minute there is a
natural event like a tornado or flood there are also folks who use it as an
excuse to avoid paying their fines and fees and/or returning their materials
-- folks who were not affected at all but who are taking advantage.
 

Dusty Gres, Director
Ohoopee Regional Library System
Hdq: Vidalia-Toombs County Library
610 Jackson Street
Vidalia, GA 30474
PH: (912) 537-9283
FAX: (912) 537-3735
EMAIL: gresd at ohoopeelibrary.org
WEB: http://www.ohoopeelibrary.org <http://www.ohoopeelibrary.org/> 
"Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different
speeds.
A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing."
William James
  

 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org]
On Behalf Of brandylaurel7 at aol.com
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 10:43 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] recovering materials after a disaster


Good morning everyone,

I am generally a silent observer on our listserv, but today I have a
question.  Our city has recently been hit by a tornado.  The damage was
extensive in some areas, but thankfully, our libraries were spared.  We had
an issue with a patron who has lost everything including borrowered
materials.  Does anyone out there have a policy regarding this?  Issues of
responsibility for materials lost in these circumstances are sensitive.

I thank you in advance for your feedback.

Brandy Jeschonek
Reference Librarian
City of Suffolk, VA.

Currently reading:  The World Without Us, Alan Wiesman; Peace Like a River,
Leif Enger.
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