Replacement Fees for Lost or Damaged Materials

1. Borrowers who fail to return library materials to the library in a timely fashion or who return them in such condition that the library decides to replace them are billed for the cost of replacing the material plus the cost of processing the replacement copy. These fees are in addition to any fines that may have accumulated.
2. The replacement cost assessed for any library item is either:
   • the average cost for items in similar format and on a similar subject as determined from the previous year's acquisitions records and other relevant statistics on academic book costs, or
   • the actual price we would have to pay to buy a new copy.

   Determining a fair and adequate replacement cost for each item is at the discretion of a circulation supervisor in consultation with collection development staff.

3. A $25 processing fee is assessed for each item that is billed for replacement.
4. An additional $14 binding fee is assessed for scores that are billed for replacement.
5. Items that are billed for replacement remain the property of the Oberlin College Library and must be returned if found. The full amount billed (replacement cost, processing fee, and binding fee) is refunded if the item is returned in good condition within 30 days of the billing date. After that time, the replacement cost and binding fee will be refunded only if the item is returned in good condition and a replacement copy has not yet been ordered.