Following the great fines debate, here's a new one for a Friday afternoon!
What do colleagues do about charging for replacement when items are either
non-returned (borrower defaulted) or when the borrower confesses to having
lost or damaged an item?
At present in Middlesbrough we charge full replacement cost for both,
although we do allow exact replacement of the item in the case of books. Bit
tricky for AV. We were recently challenged on charging full cost for a damaged
book by a council worker from another department who knew that we get a
discount from our supplier. As I am currently reviewing our stock policy
anyway, this is a good time to think about it.
We do not think we can charge full less discount as that changes with each
contract and staff would have to work out on the basis of the year the book
was bought etc.
Another suggestion was to have a sliding scale over several years of the life
of the book. That also adds complexity to the job of the assistant trying to
charge the borrower, however I do seem to remember doing this in the
otherwise long-forgotten days of Cleveland County.
We should be mindful of the honesty of the customer who confesses to
damaging the item - but then if they will drop a brand new hardback in the
bath...!
Anyway, all thoughts gratefully accepted. Anonymity respected, will do a
summary for the list etc.
Thanks,
Alyson.
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