Suggestions For Reducing the Loss or Vandalism of Library
Materials
Vandalism of library materials is costly to the University community and to
taxpayers. Replacement cost of lost or damaged material is far more
expensive than the original cost of the item. Cooperation among faculty,
staff, and students toward reducing library vandalism and facilitating a
sense of user respect will in the long run, make materials available to
everyone.
- Report loss or damage of library materials promptly to the
library staff, so that replacement processes can be started.
- Whenever possible and consistent with copyright law, place photocopies
of journal articles on reserve.
- Inform students that they should report cases of missing journal
articles and books to the library staff.
- Avoid making assignments that require heavy and sustained use of
non-reserve library materials. Where entire classes must use the same few
materials within a short time, vandalism often occurs.
- Do not make assignments that require or encourage students to clip
pictures, illustrations, or articles from periodicals or books.
- Alert librarians to situations where entire classes may have identical
or nearly identical assignments in the same library materials.
- Appeal to students' sense of fairness and responsibility when making
library assignments; a chapter or article or illustration removed from
library material is costly not only in a monetary sense but in an
intellectual sense as well.
