How to Lend Books From a Home Library

When you lend books from a home library, you're entrusting the borrower with a part of your home, interests and investment. Choose potential borrowers carefully and take all the necessary steps to ensure that you receive your book back on time and in its original condition. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Verify that you will not need to refer to the book in the near future. Books that are commonly used as reference materials are often requested by borrowers.
2. Lay down ground rules for book borrowing. Express expectations about your books' handling and care. Advise the borrower against writing in books, using paper clips or sticky notes as bookmarks and exposing your book to the weather's elements.
3. Agree on borrowing terms. Tell the borrower when you expect your book to be returned. City libraries usually allow patrons to check out books for two weeks; consider giving a borrower about the same amount of time to read your book.
4. Protect your book. Either laminate your book's dust jacket or make one out of paper.
5. Record the book's title, the borrower's name, his phone number, the date the book is lent and its expected return date on a piece of paper. Make any other notes to help you remember where your book is while it is in the borrower's possession.
6. Write your name, phone number, address and the book's return date on a plain, white bookmark. Insert the bookmark in between the book's pages to remind the borrower of your contact information and when the book is to be returned.
7. Release your book into the borrower's possession.
8. Call the borrower to remind him that you are expecting your book, if it is not returned in a timely manner. If the borrower is not finished reading, consider extending the borrowing period, but make sure to set an actual date for its return. Encouraging a borrower to keep a book until he is done reading may result in a book loss.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider investing in home library software that has a book tracking feature. Some home library software can record the titles of lent books, the name of the borrower, the date it was lent and the expected date of its return. Electronic reminders can even be set within the software.
• Personal Home Library Kits are an alternative to home library software. The kits come with check out cards, date stamps and book pockets.
• Don't lend books you are not comfortable losing. The majority of books that are lent are not returned to their rightful owners.