Procedures for Lost or Damaged School Library Materials
Avon Elementary Schools
Avon Community School Corporation
If library materials become lost or damaged while in the care of students, we expect that students and their families will assume responsibility for the loss or damage.
Read below to learn more about the policy of the Avon Elementary School Libraries regarding lost or damaged books.
OVERDUE MATERIALS
- Overdue materials will remain listed as such on a student’s account until:
- They are returned.
- They have been overdue for 90 days or more.
- At which point their status is changed to lost.
- A parent or guardian has communicated with the librarian or the library staffer that the materials are lost or damaged.
- The student leaves the school.
- They are still overdue within the last 2 weeks of the school year.
LOST MATERIALS
Materials will be converted from overdue to lost and a fine will be generated on a student’s account when:
- They are overdue for at least 90 days.
- It is the last 2 weeks of the school year.
- A plan for payment has been coordinated between the parent and the elementary media coordinator.
- The student has left the school and the materials have not been returned.
DAMAGED MATERIALS
Damaged materials will be assessed a fine in the case of excessive tears, damage to the binding, damage to the cover, water damage, mold damage, food damage, writing or drawing damage.
Parents may request the return of a damaged item after payment has been made. However, books with food/liquid/mold damage will not be returned, as it is not safe to do so.
FINES
- A fine is payable immediately.
- If a lost material is returned in good condition prior to the fine being paid, the fine will be removed from the borrower’s account.
- Fines that have not been paid before the student leaves the school will be sent to the treasurer for collection.
- This includes students who have withdrawn, students who have enrolled in another school within the district, and students who have left the school due by advancing to the next grade band.
REFUNDS
If a lost item is found and returned in good condition after a fine has been paid, the borrower will be entitled to a refund.
- The procedure for refunds is as follows:
- If the item is returned within the same year a refund will be processed based on the fine amount paid.
- For amounts less than $15, the refund will be added to the school lunch account for that student. This will be processed as soon as possible by the central office.
- For amounts greater than $15, the refund will be issued as a check. The will be processed as soon as possible pending approval for the expenditure by the school board.
- If a lost book fine is paid and the book is found after the school year in which it was lost, a refund will be issued as a check by the central office as soon as possible pending proof of payment and approval for the expenditure by the school board.
- While the elementary media coordinator will make an effort to help provide proof of payment when possible, it is ultimately the responsibility of the person who paid the fine to provide proof of payment.
