The Info Desk acts as the central lost and found location for the building so other units in the Main Library will bring items found in their spaces or turned in at their desks to the Info Desk once per day. When lost items are turned in at the Info Desk (either by another unit or by a patron):

1. Check the black binder to see if a patron has already checked with us about the item. If yes, contact the patron to let them know their item has been found.
2. Store the item per the following:

LOW-VALUE ITEMS (gloves, umbrella, water bottle, etc.)

• Put these items in the dark blue plastic bin (behind/below the 2nd row of staff seating).

• If a container with liquid in it is turned in, empty the liquid before putting the container in the bin. If an wet umbrella is turned in, leave it outside the bin until it dries.

• When the plastic bin gets full, items will be moved to the boxes in the Info Desk storage closet where they will be held until they are donated to a local charity.

ITEMS OF VALUE (IDs, purses, wallets, keys, glasses, and cell phones):

• Place these items in the wooden box in the second cabinet from the left on the east desk side. Larger items, such as purses, can be placed on the bottom shelf in that cabinet. If the item is too large for the cabinet (backpacks, etc.), place it in the storage closet.

• If it is an i-card, please e-mail the patron using Reflib and the template for Lost i-cards.  Use a sticky note or one of the lost and found tags to indicate the date the patron was emailed.  Place it in the "Lost IDs" plastic zipper bag in the wooden box on the middle shelf of the second cabinet from the left on the east desk side, labeled 'Lost & Found.'

• Items of value that have not been claimed after ~2 weeks will be moved to the locked filing cabinet in the TLAS Head's office. Information about these items (description, date received, date moved to office) will be recorded on a log sheet that will remain in the lost and found box. Items of value that have not been claimed after 30 days will be brought to campus Public Safety. i-cards that are not claimed will be returned to the ID Card Center in the Illini Union Bookstore at the end of each semester.

USB DRIVES

• Do not plug the drive into any staff computers--it may carry a virus!. Do not try to determine the owner of the drive.

• Use a sticky note or one of the lost and found tags to indicate the date the USB was found and place it in the "Lost USBs" plastic zipper bag in the wooden box on the middle shelf of the second cabinet from the left on the east desk side, labeled 'Lost & Found.' USBs will be retained for 30 days, after which they will be discarded.

PATRONS LOOKING FOR LOST ITEMS

• Depending on what type of item they have lost, check for the item in either the blue plastic bin or in the wooden box in the second cabinet from the left on the east desk side, labeled 'Lost & Found.' If the patron indicates they lost the item more than a few days ago, check the storage closet as well.

• To assist a patron in reclaiming an item of value that has been moved to the locked filing cabinet in the 300 suite (check the log sheet in the lost and found box), put them in contact with the TLAS Head (reach out via Teams or phone to see if they are available, if not, send an email via RefLib including the patron).

• If we do not have the item at the desk, offer to take the patron's name and contact information in case the item is turned in later. If the patron wants to leave their information, record it in the black binder labeled "Lost Items Contact List" that is kept on the middle shelf of the second cabinet from the left on the east desk side, labeled 'Lost & Found.'

• If the patron knows where they lost the item, offer to call and check with the desk in that area of the library in case the item has not yet been brought to the Info Desk.

ABANDONED BAGS
Do not open the bag. If you can see an ID without opening the bag, contact the owner and follow the procedure above for Items of Value. If no ID is visible, place the bag in the Info Desk storage closet. If no one comes to claim the bag before the shift change, alert the staff on the next shift about the found bag and where you've stored it. If no one claims the bag by closing time, send a message to RefLib (cc to Sara Holder) letting the opening shift staff know about the bag.

If any left-behind belongings look suspicious, call Campus Security at 217-333-1216.