Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

A string of DVD thefts from the Haines Borough Public Library during the past two years has left a sizable hole in the library's collection.

In an effort to dissuade the thief or thieves, library staff have put up a display in its DVD section with a sign that reads "This empty space illustrates how many DVDs have recently gone missing from our collections." During the past two years, 269 DVDs worth $5,380 have been stolen.

"The gap represents how many DVDs have gone missing from the library," said library director Rebecca Heaton. "It's a big gap. It's eight shelves worth."

Heaton said they realized a few months ago that more DVDs went missing when they noticed the increasing frequency of times they couldn't find an item after a library patron put a hold on a movie. Staff inventoried the collection and realized how many went missing.

"The reason why it's puzzling to us is it's not our collection. It's the public's collection," library director Rebecca Heaton said. "We are storing it for you. You want to watch it? We say, "Okay." And then we check it out to you. I don't know why you feel you have to have it in your own little room, which is going to get crowded. That's a lot of DVDs."

She said the current plan to stop the thefts is to make people aware that it's happening.

"We thought maybe if someone was aware of what a ding they made to the collection, maybe their conscience would kick in, the person or persons unknown," she said.

Heaton said the locks now on the DVDs are flimsy and easy to break. It's too expensive to install RFID tags on the DVDs, the cost of equipment far exceeds the cost of replacing the items. She also doesn't want the library to install cameras or RFID sensors at the front door.

"I don't like that look. It feels like you're being checked every time you come in," Heaton said. "I want it to feel like a home away from home as long as we possibly can.