How much loss of books in a year is permissible in the library?

[Mr. Prasanta Kumar Deka]

Here last(2009-10 )stock verification report in my library i have found 139books lost from my library.we are following open access system in library and most of the student are higher secondary and degree level.: When the average attendance in the library is about 200 to 300 daily, then it is quite obvious that some student may do such type of misdeeds. But can you suggest me how i can convicts my authority about the matter. Is there any rule about library book lost. There is no security system but I  have inform authority about it . I would like to quote Dr Ranganathan, the father of Library Science in India that “It is better to loose a book than to loose a reader

[Dr. Badan Barman]

Dear sir, In a search over the web I found the following details from different sources.

A quote from Govt. of India General Financial Rules:
Rule no. 116(2) (ii): "Loss of three volumes per one thousand volumes issued/consulted in a year may be taken as reasonable provided such loss can not be attributed to dishonesty or negligence on the part of Librarian. Loss of a book of the value exceeding Rs.200 (Rupees Two hundred) and the books of special nature and rarity shall invariably be investigated and consequential action taken. All such losses will however be written off only by a competent authority."

As per General Financial rules 2005 Govt. of India, loss of books up to 5 books per thousand books issued/consulted can be considered reasonable.

“Swamy's Handbook' Pg. 399 (1999 edition) under the heading "Special Procedure for Library Books".
Loss of 3 books/1000 issues cannot be attributed to dishonesty or negligence of the librarian.

The Directorate of the Technical education in the Letter No FAR/14353 Dated 31/12/1974 has stated that a conference of Librarians of the colleges in Karnataka University was held on May 8 1973. In this a resolution passed. It is recommended that a loss of 4 books for every 1000 books used (those which are lent out and those which are consulted in the premises of the library) be regarded normal loss and should be straight away writes off. Order No.FD 25 TCL 74: Bangalore, Dated 18/JUNE/1974 by order and in the name of the government of Karnataka.

The UGC (India) Library Committee forcefully recommends to write off an inevitable loss @ 2 for every 1000 books issued.

However in an open access library, annual loss of 3 volumes for every 1000 issues should be considered as a normal loss in normal circumstances as recommended by Dr. Ranganathan. REF: Mittal, R. L. Library Administration: Theory and Practice, Fifth ed., 1987, p357-359.

[n.s.prabaharan]

Dear friend, you have given so many statement, which one we should follow.

[n.s.prabaharan]

As per the finance rule, no:194 per 1000 circulation books, 5 books allowed to take consider for lose. if you want more pl see the finance rule.

[Shrabani Ghosh]

hello Mr.Deka,
I can totally understand your helpless situation because we are facing similar problem in our library ( it is being open from 9a.m. to 2a.m.).I think installing RFID system is the only solution.But whether RFID system or CCTV both are quite expensive. you have to convince your authority about the urgent need of using these technologies.

[Mr. Prasanta Kumar Deka]

Thank you Ghosh for your valuable suggestions, to installing RFID technology in my library, but it is very costly and my library is running with limited fund, and I could not convicts my authority for it. if possible plz inform me how I can prevent this problem

[Neha]

I think RFID system is best bt library staff should chk dt d user's wht to do.....sometim staff members forgt dere responsibilty.....nd ignore such things....

[Mamta Verma]

As per General Finance Rules 2005 loss of five books/ volumes per thousand volumes issued is considered reasonable.

For more clarifications you can access this web page also:
http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/GFRS/GFR2005.pdf

As far as security is concerned electronic surveillance systems consisting of RFID tags, smart cards, electric and sensor based gates do solve the purpose. CCTV may also be installed for monitoring.

[Dr. Badan Barman]

Thanks a lot madam,
I am glad to receive this rule. The page number 73-74 will really solve some of the problem of our colleague.

[Hemanta Kumar Das]

Thank U madam for the link to GFR 2005.

[Dr.Harmanpreet Singh Sandhu]

A quote from Govt. of India General Financial Rules:
Rule no. 116(2) (ii): "Loss of three volumes per one thousand volumes issued/consulted in a year may be taken as reasonable provided such loss can not be attributed to dishonesty or negligence on the part of Librarian. Loss of a book of the value exceeding Rs.200 (Rupees Two hundred) and the books of special nature and rarity shall invariably be investigated and consequential action taken. All such losses will however be written off only by a competent authority."

As per General Financial rules 2005 Govt. of India, loss of books up to 5 books per thousand books issued/consulted can be considered reasonable.

For more clarifications you can access this web page also: 
http://finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/GFRS/GFR2005.pdf

See page 73 last paragraph and page 74 first and second paragraphs of the document after downloading it for details.

 

[priyanka vasudeva]

it is stated 5 books per 1000 books issued or consulted, but where reading room and stacks are at smane place how can we figure out the no. of books consulted ???

 

Can we replace a lost books with new addition of the same books with approval of library committee or new books are always given new accession number..???

[kavita shringi]

I know RFID system is very costly in my institute we applied different method for prevent books from loss .
At a time limited No of students allow in the library book section and that is easy to handle them.