Schools losing the war against book thefts

Word On a sad situation in Sprinfield, where 2,276 books worth an estimated $40,211 left Springfield school libraries tucked inside jackets, stuffed in backpacks or squeezed between textbooks. An additional 2,147 books worth an estimated $25,656 were checked out but never returned. Only one school has a security system.

“Maybe students would be more wary if there were more eyes watching them,” said Tanya Perretta, a Kickapoo parent and a volunteer at three district libraries. “Maybe we need more volunteers.”