Theft and Its Effects on Our Neighborhood Libraries.

Theft is a serious problem in our neighborhood libraries if the results of the survey described in this article are any indication. The Sacramento Public Library had purchased 455 copies of 26 Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) titles. Only 71 were found to be available. Ten of the others had been lost and paid for but the remaining 374 copies had been billed but not paid. This represents a loss of $8,900. Books by the author Zane were also examined. The losses amounted to $6,700. The effects of these losses are discussed. Recommendations for handling high-risk titles and improving the overdue process are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]