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Area libraries increasing security to combat rising thefts

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By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 12:22 AM Saturday, April 23, 2011

A rise in thefts at Dayton-area libraries has prompted the public institutions to increase security to better protect inventory, especially audio-visual materials such as DVDs, CDs and video games.

Many libraries have noticed a spike in incidents since the recession began, and have spent tens of thousands of dollars on security equipment costs and the replacement of materials.

For example, the Washington-Centerville Public Library recently spent close to $25,000 on multiple security measures. Troy-Miami County Library contributed $10,000 toward its new $70,000 radio frequency identification system that prevents theft and streamlines circulation.

“It costs money to address, but it costs more money if you don’t address it,” said Georgia Mergler, Washington-Centerville community relations manager. “Those aren’t ongoing costs, those are one-time expenses, and they protect over a million dollars in library materials we spend each year.”

Libraries generally do not keep detailed records of thefts, and they employ multiple opportunities for patrons to return items. But in the last couple years, they have seen more cases that go way beyond overdue books.

They involve fraudulent activity and illustrate the intent to steal from the libraries, which, in turn, costs taxpayers when items need to be replaced.

“Somebody would come in, get a library card, check out the maximum number of AV items and never come back,” said Christy Hale, community relations manager for Woodbourne Library in Centerville, noting some cases have led to charges of felony theft. “We started to see some patterns and some groups. These people knew each other, and were hitting us up.”

A recent inventory of AV materials at the Xenia Library turned up about $2,840 worth of missing materials, said Karl Colon, director of the Greene County Public Library.

Elizabeth Rumple, the Greene County library’s assistant director, said there also have been issues with people using lost or stolen library cards.

“We try to stress to people that your library card is just as important as your credit card,” Rumple said. “There’s a financial liability to it.”

Security, help

In response to the rise in thefts, some area libraries have increased security measures. Those include tightening new borrower privileges, installing additional security cameras and security systems, or placing some AV materials — which account for anywhere from 25 to 50 percent of local library circulation — in locking cases.

Dayton Metro Library last year spent $496,000 on security, including safety and anti-theft measures, said spokesman Mark Willis.

Libraries also have worked with local resale shops, police and a collection agency to address these issues.

Rachelle Miller of Troy-Miami County and Ann Snively, director of Wright Memorial Public Library in Oakwood, said their libraries are among those that have had items show up at pawn shops, flea markets or second-hand facilities.

At Second Time Around, which sells new and used CDs and DVDs in Dayton, there is enough of a market for library goods that the store felt compelled to introduce a policy.

“Whenever we see anything come through, we tell them we don’t buy the library stuff,” manager Tony Schmidt said. “We just don’t like to encourage it.”

Many libraries also have hired a collection agency, Unique Management Services, created specifically to help libraries curb loss. The Indiana-based agency has accounts with Dayton Metro Library, Franklin-Springboro Public Library, Troy-Miami County, Greene County Public Library and Washington-Centerville.

The collection agency reports helping more than 1,400 library systems all over the world recover more than $250 million in materials, fines and fees since 1996.

The Greene County Public Library pays the company a flat fee of $83,000 annually. Last year the company’s work resulted in the return of $114,000 worth of materials and the payment by Greene County library patrons of $256,000 to replace items they had not returned, Colon said.

Protecting services

Library officials stressed that these measures are taken in an attempt to protect the patron.

“People think, ‘Who would steal from a library?’ but it happens,” Mergler said. “It should make people mad.”

Mimi Morris, an assistant director at Dayton Metro, said protecting inventory and remaining accessible is an ongoing financial balancing act, especially in this period of increasing state budget constraints.

“We have to get the most bang for our buck,” she said. “We used to keep the AV items behind the desk and had dummy cases out in the public that we would swap them out for the real thing. That really was a pretty strong security, but the cost in staff time was tremendous.”

Library officials are aware they are using taxpayer money, and that it is their responsibility to protect it.

Jeanette Sandstrom of Kettering said people need to appreciate the library.

“Where else do you get this kind of service?” Sandstrom said while checking out books Wednesday at Woodbourne. “Last year, I read 186 books. I don’t know what I’d do without the library.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7325 or jikelley@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Staff writer Lynn Hulsey contributed to this story.

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