Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish consistent procedures for library employees who receive, document, secure, return, and dispose of property found in the library or on library property.
General Procedures
Employees who find or receive lost property should promptly turn the item in to the Circulation service desk, the library’s designated Lost and Found location. Employees should not keep, use, or take possession of found property for personal purposes.
When practical, staff should record:
- Date and time the item was found or received.
- Location where the item was found.
- General description of the item.
- Name or initials of the employee receiving the item.
- Any relevant identifying information needed to track the item.
Lost property should be stored in a secure, designated area accessible only to authorized staff.
Returning Property
A person claiming lost property may be asked to provide a reasonable description of the item or other information establishing ownership before the item is released.
Employees should avoid publicly disclosing detailed identifying information about found items that could enable an unauthorized person to claim them.
When an item is returned, staff should document the date of return and, when appropriate, the name or other identifying information of the person receiving it.
Valuable or Sensitive Property
Cash, wallets, identification cards, credit or debit cards, keys, electronic devices, medications, jewelry, and other valuable or sensitive property should receive additional security and handling.
Items that may be dangerous, illegal, or evidence of a crime should not be placed in the ordinary Lost and Found. Employees should notify a supervisor and follow applicable library, municipal, and law-enforcement procedures.
Perishable or Unsanitary Items
Perishable food, liquids, biological materials, or items presenting a health or sanitation concern may be discarded when appropriate. Staff should consult a supervisor when there is uncertainty about whether an item can be safely stored.
Unclaimed Property
Unless a longer retention period is required by law or library policy, ordinary lost property will be retained for 90 days.After the applicable retention period, unclaimed property may be donated, recycled, discarded, transferred to another government agency, or otherwise disposed of in accordance with applicable law and library policy.
Cash and other property subject to specific legal requirements will be handled according to those requirements.
Employee Responsibility
Employees are expected to follow this policy consistently and to protect the security and privacy of patrons whose property has been found.
Employees should refer unusual, high-value, disputed, or potentially hazardous items to a supervisor rather than making an independent determination about their disposition.
Disclaimer
The library does not assume responsibility for personal property brought onto library premises. The Lost and Found program is provided as a courtesy to assist in returning lost property to its rightful owner.