Processing Items Damaged Beyond Repair
When an item is returned damaged beyond repair, the best practice is to Mark the Item as Lost. This process automatically generates a bill while maintaining the connection between the patron, the specific item, and the charge.
- From the CIRC Toolbar, click the Checkout wizard.
- Scan the user's barcode or use the User Search Helper to identify the patron.
- Right-click the title that is damaged and select Mark Item Lost.
- Click OK on the confirmation prompt.
- Update the Lost Item price and/or Processing Fee if necessary, then click Bill User.
- Click OK on the transaction confirmation.
- Add a Note: To document the specific damage, right-click the newly created bill and select Edit Bill Note.
- Type the description of the damage and click Save.
- If the patron is paying for the item immediately, proceed with standard payment procedures.
Handling Repairable Damage and Transit Items
Repairable Damage: Continue to use the DAMAGE bill reason for items that can still be fixed and returned to circulation.
Items from Other Libraries: If an item belonging to another library arrives with repairable damage, check it out to the DAMAGED user account, attach a physical note describing the issue, and return it to the owning library.
Items Damaged in Transit: If an item belonging to your library is returned from another location damaged beyond repair, do not bill the current patron. Instead, call the library where it was last checked out to notify them. They will need to process the "Mark Item Lost" procedure.
Deletion Policy: Lost items that remain unpaid cannot be deleted. Once paid, they can be removed via the Delete Title, Call Numbers, or Items wizard or will be automatically purged after one year.