Each year the loss of books and periodicals from theft and mutilation in Pattee and branch libraries seriously undermines free access to library materials. Few library users realize how expensive it is to replace stolen and damaged materials. Permanent damage to a collection results from the loss of irreplaceable items. But what is worse, many users experience the frustration -- even despair -- of discovering that the information they seek is denied them because the page on which it appears has been torn from a periodical, or the specific book they need is missing from the shelf and presumed lost or stolen. This happens despite the availability of photocopiers throughout Pattee and branch libraries and a generous loan period. It also happens despite the risk of prompt and severe punishment that violators face when caught.
You can help us protect library materials by reporting individuals who mutilate them to a member of our staff. By being responsible and by being aware of the problem, you can help us protect library materials so they can be shared for the good of everyone at Penn State.
Go to the Preservation Department
