We do try to get money for lost books (just like for textbooks)

I'll email checked out book reminders.

I'll mail (way) overdue notices to get the book back.

I'll post reminders in the parent weekly message.

However, as a public school, if a student transfers and takes school property - there is nothing we can really do.  A free education is a free education.  We can't do collections or have the manpower to pursue students who have missing materials.  That is just the cost of doing business.  Textbooks go missing, pens/pencils/paper gets used up, desks are broken, chromebooks die, library books go missing.  We chalk it up as a loss.  Replace what we can and move on.  I have a several thousand dollar budget, I do some fundraising and ask for donations.  I probably lose about $200 worth of library books a year.  Not bad considering that if 2 students each lose a biology textbook, that is around $375.

I don't know if private schools can be more aggressive with collecting various fines.  I think good relationships go a long way with students.  But ultimately they are kids with no income.  Once I exhaust email and snail mail options, I don't think we can do much more.

Klaudia