Somebody writes “Multnomah County Libraries still losing items from shelves. Two years after a series of undetected thefts prompted a re-examination of library security, the nation’s busiest library system is still struggling to track and protect its collection.
A recent study of missing items shows the consequences: Multnomah County’s libraries are bleeding books, DVDs, CDs and other items. The first inventory in nearly two decades estimates that 6 percent of the 1.7 million items thought to be on the shelves are missing. Another 6 percent were borrowed in the past four years but not returned.
The library system has grown significantly in the past decade, with 17 branches and a $50 million annual budget. The library is well regarded nationally and well used locally. Last year it lent 19.4 million items, about 28.5 per resident, more than any system in the nation.”
Six percent over twenty years: Not bad
I’m not the first one to point this out, but a 0.3% annual shrinkage rate really isn’t bad for a public library. (I’m guessing a fair number of businesses would be happy to have a 0.3% theft/shrinkage rate…)
And 28 circs per resident: That is some phenomenally well-used library system!