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<p>Thanks to those who responded to my questions, 12 of you in all. Some asked me to share the replies, so here goes.</p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;">TO CHARGE OR NOT TO CHARGE FOR DAMAGE</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;">Many librarians told me they regard smells as the cost of doing business, and if the item is not damaged and can be put back on the shelf after treatment, they don't talk to the patron or charge them. Good advice!</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<pre style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Clare Membiela said, "<span style="background-color: #ffffff;">I think this could be covered under your damaged policy – unless it can be remediated. Is it possible to remove the<br />odor?" Many of you told me it <span style="text-decoration: underline;">is</span> possible; here's how:</span></span></pre>
<p>METHODS</p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;">Many people put the smelly item in a closed plastic box with kitty litter, for a day to up to a week. Tracy Logan, Cadillac Wexford Public Library Director, goes a bit further, with good success: "A<span style="background-color: #ffffff;"> deodorizing tank can be made using a </span></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;">Rubbermaid tub with a tight fitting lid, kitty litter (clay), a cardboard box, and tape. Place a layer of kitty litter in the box. Clean the book's cover in your usual way. Put the books in the cardboard box and tape the box completely shut so litter can't get in. Set the cardboard box with books inside on the kitty litter and cover the cardboard box with another layer of kitty litter. <span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Put the lid of the tub back on and let the items sit for 2-3 days depending on the strength of the smells. "</span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;">Kelsey Rutkowski of Indian River Area Library says they use <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">an Arm & Hammer moisture absorption & odor elimination bucket from Walmart in a sealed plastic tote and "<span style="background-color: #ffffff;">put dryer sheets over each item and sometimes between pages depending on how large the books are"</span>. </span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Andrea Estelle, director of Otsego District Public Library, says they <span style="background-color: #ffffff;">stick a dryer sheets in the pages and put them in a Ziploc bag in the freezer for a week; another librarian emphasized unscented sheets to protect future readers with scent sensitivities. </span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;">Many responders open the books on a flat surface to air. Jessica Holman, Negaunee Public Library director<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> "prefer[s] to wipe down the cover and stick the books in front of a fan in sunlight until the smell dissipates."</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; color: #000000;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Candace Mahoney of Salem South Lyon District Library replied, "<span style="background-color: #ffffff;">We have a 'fumigation chamber' which is a large Rubbermaid tote that has a layer of Gonzo odor absorbing rocks on the bottom, topped with a plastic mesh grid. That setup occupies maybe the bottom 2 inches of the tub. We set the books into the bin on top of the mesh, with their pages fanned out a bit. The smoky smell is usually gone within a few days. We have a laminated sheet on top and a dry erase marker which we use to record which titles went in on which dates so they can be checked and reshelved."</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<pre style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"></span>Meredith Sommers of Bayliss Public Library referred to the items being "at the spa" during fumigation :)<br /></span></pre>
<pre style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hope this information is useful!<br />Susan Riegler<br /><br /></span><br />------<br />Hello all,
A patron returned five books today that smell pretty smoky. This is the
third time in a few months. There's nothing in our policy that deals
with this directly. A circulation policy states: Materials damaged or
lost by a patron must be replaced by the patron.
Have you dealt with this before? Have you talked to the patron, which I
will do; and when, if you do so, do you declare the item damaged and the
patron responsible for paying for the item/s?
Thanks!
--
_Susan Riegler_
Susan Riegler, Director
Alden District Library
231/331-4318</pre>
<div id="signature">-- <br />
<p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><em>Susan Riegler</em></span></p>
<p>Susan Riegler, Director</p>
<p>Alden District Library</p>
<p>231/331-4318</p>
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