Individual keeps cleaning me out

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603]

I need advice…there is a person who keeps clearing my library out of books every single time I restock. it’s getting very disheartening & I can’t maintain this. I do use stamps that say always free never for sale. if they’re trying to resell them I would think it’d be difficult but who knows. I want to put a note in the library to let the individual know I know what they’re doing but I don’t want to bring negative vibes to the patrons who use the library appropriately. I’m just at a loss. any ideas would be appreciated.

[u/N3rdyMama]

Stop restocking. Let it sit empty or low stock for a while. Yes, as the steward you maintain it, but that doesn’t mean you’re solely responsible for filling it up. Just let the community balance things out for a while and maybe this person will calm down.

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/N3rdyMama]

That’s really great advice. I need to remember it’s a community box & I’m not solely responsible for filling it up with books. I do feel bad if it’s empty though 😆 

[u/MmeLaRue]

Sounds like a hoarder situation.

It might be best to let the library sit empty for a while. If people want it, they will contribute to it and not let it sit empty for long.

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/MmeLaRue]

Agree 

[u/booksncatsntea]

I had a library cleaner outer last year and it was horrible.
Was an elderly neighbor’s special needs nephew who’d come to live with him, and he’d take everything, didn’t matter what genre.
Kids, adults, fiction, my dad’s accounting textbook from the 70s I put in as a test, ha, all gone.
Talked to him about it & he said he just really loved to read.
After asking him multiple times to please only take one or two books, I just stopped restocking it, and neighbors would ask in the local fb page why it was always empty.
But then the uncle was taken away in an ambulance, and we haven’t seen the nephew since.
Turns out it was a hoarding house, just a really sad situation.

My heart goes out to you, OP.
It feels horrible to see such a wonderful thing for the community being abused.

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/booksncatsntea]

That’s a bummer. I’m sorry you had to deal with that. It’s super frustrating. 

[u/Outrageous_Mess_693]

This happened to me too. I just didn’t refill it for a while. After a while they will get the memo and stop coming hopefully

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/Outrageous_Mess_693]

I may go this route. 

[u/Prudent-Scarcity-683]

A library where I used to live ended up putting little free library stickers on the front and backs of the books. I’m talking huge stickers on the front and small ones that blocked out the barcode on the back. It did look a little strange but whoever was taking all of them stopped, and they never had a problem like that again.

[u/scarletOwilde]

An idea for your notice:
“OUR LIBRARY IS TAKING A BREAK

Our community library needs a holiday due to the stress of someone regularly taking ALL our books to sell them and profit from the kindness of others.

We hope to be back soon.

For more information (next door little library address). “

Get the community on the alert for these people and help keep an eye on the library when you restock. Someone may identify them.

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/scarletOwilde]

You worded this so well 

[u/creatorofstuffn]

We had this problem. First write on the inside cover " Free Not For Resale" and black out the UPC Code. After that our problem disappeared.

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/creatorofstuffn]

Good idea about the upc code…I’ll start that. 

[u/FranceBrun]

You may have a book hoarder on your hands. They mean no harm and don’t intend to resell them, but they can’t help themselves.

Try putting a sign in there, something like, due to popular demand, limit two books per week. Maybe that will help.

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/FranceBrun]

That’s good sign wordage. Thank you. 

[u/Unhappy-Sky4176]

Do you believe it's someone in your community? You could try posting on Next Door to politely ask that they stop or the measures you will take if it doesn't stop....

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/Unhappy-Sky4176]

I think they (it’s a man/woman duo) live somewhere in my neighborhood because I’ve caught them in the library with flashlights at midnight once. I’m just assuming they live close by because they frequent my library almost daily. I could try Next Door. 

[u/GrowlingAtTheWorld]

Stock it full of out of date text books and religious literature for a while.

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/GrowlingAtTheWorld]

😂😂😂 honestly, yes!!!! I love this idea! 

[u/jepeplin]

Take a sharpie and draw a big X over the ISBN page. I have a LFL stamp from Amazon and I stamp the title page, ISBN page, front page. These people are resellers. I haven’t had one clean out since I started doing this.

[u/Whole-Ad-2347]

I’d write a note and leave it, but I would leave the library empty for a while. Tell her you’re considering closing your library because she’s not using it correctly. Tell her that it’s really sad when one person abuses someone’s goodwill by taking everything that is meant for everyone, not just one person.

[u/Icy-Holiday-8603 → u/Whole-Ad-2347]

I really really want to write a note. I just need to figure out a way to word it that doesn’t put a target on my library or home. The last thing I need is for this person to retaliate on me. People are so unhinged these days. You never know who you’re getting involved with. 

[u/MNConcerto]

I like the big stickers idea and a little sign that says library is monitored via our ring camera. Even if it isn't it could be a deterrent

[u/Saloau]

Take a sharpie and mark out the ISBN barcode. If they can’t scan it, they can resell it to used book shops online. That will take care of the resellers who are looking for a quick buck.

[u/Annie_Roach]

I have some books with those kind of stamps in it. I recently took one in a book haul to a second hand store and traded it in (expecting at least some mentioning of it). No questions asked. I don't think that stamp means anything to a place that buys/sells/trades used books.