Why don't we follow these tool as a standard one, and post these laws on the notice board for all libraries.

In the year 1961-1968 the cases of misplacement of books in Banaas Hindu University library were very high. Some suggested to adopt close access system to overcome the problem. The others decided to catch hold the culprits and penalise them heavily so that they may feel the payment. Several cases of misplacement were caught. A list was prepared of all these guilties and was sent to the authorities for necessary action to be taken against them, A fine of Rs 25/- for each misplacement was decided.

 All these cases were published in local newspaper and announcements were made in all faculties of the university. This minimised misplacement problem to a great extent. In the year 1964 no case of misplacement was heard or even seen, expect a few unintentional  ones.

Library Laws

Whosoever, without authority, wilfully conceals or removes any library document shall be deemed guilty of larceny, and up on conviction there of shall be treated under sections (378-462) of the IPC

Any person possessing a library document if fails to return within a fortnight after receiving notice from a library authority shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanour punishable under sections (405-9) of IPC

Any person who maliciously defaces, mutilates or destroys any document shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanour. If such document gets lost or destroyed by the person in possession of the document he shall be liable within thirty days after notification of the value of such document as determined by a competent authority of the management.

A  library employee shall not be liable for unlawful detention, slander, false imprisonment, assult or battery of the person arrested, provided that their remains a probable cause to believe the wilful concealment of library documents or property. The privilege accrues from the “‘Right of Private Defence” Under sections (96-106) of IPC

The library board may institute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction to recover the document, or the value thereof . The libraries may ‘refuse’ the entrance of such known malefactors.

Source: 

Title: Problems of Misplacement, Mutilation and Theft of Books in Libraries

Author:  Badri Prasad Goswami  

Foreword by: Padmashri Dr. S.R. Ranganathan M.A.,L.T, D.LTT, F.L.A (Lond.)

This books covers:

Genesis and conspectus of the problem

Activators of the Problem

Prevention of the Crime

Penalities or Correctives