<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div><span>Michael,</span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>You commented that a "digital photo could/should be made and retained" and that brought to mind that maybe a digital photo of the damage could/should be included in the original<var id="yui-ie-cursor"></var> letter sent to the patron. Evidence of the damage might encourage the patron to pay more attention to the bill. It would be fairly easy to "Insert" the digitized photo into the body of the text.</span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>Just a thought!</span></div><div><span>Cynthia Kleinheksel</span></div><div><br></div> <div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <div dir="ltr"> <div class="hr"
style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); height: 0px; line-height: 0; font-size: 0px;" contenteditable="false" readonly="true"></div> <font face="Arial" size="2"> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> Michael McGuire <mdmcguire@yahoo.com><br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> "michlib-l@mail.mcls.org" <michlib-l@mail.mcls.org> <br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, September 24, 2013 1:56 PM<br> <b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [Michlib-l] Damaged items question<br> </font> </div> <div class="y_msg_container"><br><div id="yiv7866052669"><div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div><span>Wouldn't it be prudent to hold the item for a stated and reasonable period of time which would be conveyed to the patron at the time
of notification of the damage and billing?</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><span>Something like:</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;">**<br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><span>Dear Patron,</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color:
transparent;"><br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><span>We've discovered that an item you returned recently (identify by call number, date of return, etc. or whatever other information that will make clear to the patron what the item is) was damaged when it was returned. Since there was no indication of damage when you borrowed the item, you will be billed for the (cost/value/purchase price/whatever you do). This item will be retained by the Library at (name location) for thirty (or whatever other reasonable time you determine) days should you wish to see the item and the
damage to it. After that period, the item will be disposed of due to the damage. </span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><span><You may wish to include a paragraph on how the charge to the patron is determined and how it can be paid and/or added to the patron's record until paid and the consequences of that><br></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><span><br></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;
background-color: transparent;"><span>Thank you very much for your attention to this matter. </span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><span>The local library</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><span>**</span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style:
normal; background-color: transparent;"><br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;"><span>The question of whether this needs to be a policy adopted by the Board or an administrative policy is one for local determination. It probably should be denominated as a policy in writing and might contain an "escape" clause for items that do (or appear to) create a health hazard - e.g. blood or other bodily fluids - which could create a real health hazard for library personnel and/or the public. The notification to the patron should note that the item was disposed of/destroyed due to the apparent health hazard. A digital photo could/should be made and retained in that case.<br></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;
background-color: transparent;"><br><span></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; background-color: transparent;">Michael D. McGuire<br>Grand Rapids, MI<br>mdmcguire@yahoo.com<br> <br></div><br><div style="font-family: bookman old style, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div style="font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br> </div> </div> </div></div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>Michlib-l mailing list<br><a href="mailto:Michlib-l@lists.mcls.org" ymailto="mailto:Michlib-l@lists.mcls.org">Michlib-l@lists.mcls.org</a><br><a href="http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l" target="_blank">http://lists.mlcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l</a><br><br><br></div> </div> </div> </div></body></html>