"Gordon Library will refer to the Campus Judicial System any individual caught stealing or vandalizing library materials, and all appropriate means of compensation will be sought. In the event that the offender is a non-WPI user, the Campus Police will be called."
Apart from the fact that vandalizing and stealing materials makes them unavailable to other members of the WPI community, many may not realize the cost that this represents to the library. Replacing ripped out pages of periodicals is a very expensive process. Sometimes we can replace pages with a photocopy obtained through Interlibrary loan. This entails locating the article elsewhere, maybe inserting the pages ourselves into the volume, or sending the volume back to the bindery to have it rebound. Other times if a whole current issue is missing we have to buy another issue and these costs can be hundreds of dollars as some of our periodical titles cost several thousand dollars a year. Staff costs in locating and processing this material are not insignificant.
Another related issue for the library is the non-return of books. A review of the cost of lost books for which we have not been reimbursed in the last few years amounts to over $30,000. In fiscal year 1994/95 we paid an average of $45 for every book purchased. Many scientific and technical books cost over $100 and users who lose these items owe the library that amount plus a modest $10 processing fee.
When individuals vandalize or lose library materials and neglect to pay for them, the burden of cost is ultimately born by the whole student body.
An article in the January 15 Worcester Telegram and Gazette this year indicated that many public libraries in the Worcester area are trying cope with the non-return of library materials and dealing with big losses. The Worcester Public Library loses hundreds of books every year.
Our plea to the WPI community is to be responsible for the library materials you use. We now have four copiers available (two on the main service level, one on the first level and one on the ground level) so there is no need to rip out pages. Please return your books. We would much rather have the books returned than replace them or find that they are no longer in print. Gordon Library materials are for the entire WPI community. Please ensure that they are available.