Thank you to everyone who responded to my query regarding unclaimed personal items. Summary of responses on how libraries handle these items:
Keeping track of items:
- Attach a post-it with date found
- Keep a log of items with description and date found
- Collect items in a lost-and-found container
- Post the items on the library's Facebook page
Retention of items: Libraries retain items anywhere from a week to a year
How libraries dispose of items by type of item:
- Drivers licenses: mail to owner, give to police department, shred
- Other forms of identification: call owner if phone number known, mail to owner or issuing agency (e.g., school), shred
- Phones: call the carrier of a
cell phone company and give the IEM # to see if they can identify the owner, donate, send to the police department
- Flashdrives: all responding libraries erase files then either throw away or retain for use by library staff or IT department
- Books owned by schools: return to schools
- Clothing and similar items: all responding libraries donate to a charitable organization, some libraries wash before donating.