August 20, 2008

Resolution: Missing Book Procedure

The Board of Supervisors' Library Citizens Advisory Committee (LCAC) tonight passed the following resolution:

Whereas the LCAC passed a resolution December 13, 2006, urging San Francisco Public Library to monitor and search its collection for lost books and evaluate potential replacements; and

Whereas the LCAC heard a presentation July 17, 2008, on missing book counts, reordering lost books and related data;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The LCAC recommends that the SFPL complete its plans to do regular computer searches of the collection to determine which books or other items are lost and/or missing.

When missing books are identified, a process of determining eligibility for replacement should be undertaken and documented as part of the missing books process. Written criteria should be established and utilized to decide if a missing book or item should be replaced or not.

The criteria should include the borrowing history of the item when it was in the collection, the importance of the book or item for the collection, and other criteria to be developed.