February 2024

Quick facts

• Send items that belong to another library system to the Operations Center, 635/OPS/Mail desk, in interoffice mail. Do not put these items in hold or return crates.
• Items with no library markings, or that were withdrawn from another library, are treated as donations.

Procedure

Material returned with no visible library identification or that has been withdrawn from another library system is considered a donation and staff will follow donation procedures. 

Material belonging to another library system should be sent to the Operations Center, 635/OPS/Mail desk, through interoffice mail as soon as possible. Put these items with the rest of the branch outgoing interoffice mail. Do not place these items in an outgoing holds or returns crate.

The Mail Room will sort materials belonging to Portland Public Schools by School District and Portland Public Schools will pick them up for re-distribution. For more details, see School books returned to MCL.

Do not refer patrons to the Mail Room or Sort Center to trace materials. No records are kept of what has been sent out and items cannot be tracked.

Policy

Materials returned to Multnomah County Library, but belonging to other public, private and school libraries, are returned to owning libraries by courier or by U.S. Mail. A reasonable attempt will made to return materials to the owning library in a timely manner. Items are not recorded or tracked. The Mail Room at the Operations Center handles all such material.

Material returned with no visible library identification or has been withdrawn from another library system is considered a donation.