Where to Look for Lost Library Books

 

First things first, try to remember what the book/s looked like: 

 

How big was it? Was it thick or thin?  Do you remember anything about the cover? 

Did it have a distinctive color? Was it hardcover or paperback? 

 

If you're not sure, ask the librarian, maybe s/he can remember.  Or have the librarian look up the cover on the libraries online card catalog or on Amazon using the book’s ISBN.  Also, keep in mind, all library books have spine labels, barcode labels and library labels so they tend to stand out. 

 

Did you accidentally return the book to the public library?  The public library will return it to the school library, but you should let Ms. Rinke know what happened.

Now, try to think about the last place you remember having the book?

 

Here’s a list of actual places where people from all over the U.S. have found their missing books.  Even if you don’t find yours in one of these locations, it might help you think of other areas to search.

 

Around the House

 

v      In the car (also check under the seats)

v      Under the baby’s car seat

v      In the trunk of the car

v      Under the spare tire

v      In the other car

v      In the garage

v      Behind or under the washing machine

v      Behind or under the dryer

v      In the stroller bag

v      In the recycling bin

v      In your folder or binder

v      In your backpack

v      In your other backpack.

v      In your sibling's backpack

v      On top of the piano.

v      In the piano bench

v      Ask the housekeeper if s/he’s seen it

v      In the reclining chair

          (between the arm and the seat cushion)

v      Under or in back of the sofa

           (also check under cushions)

v      Under or on top of the kitchen or dining room table

 

v      Behind the refrigerator

          (because it fell off of the top)

v      In the freezer

v      On top of/behind/under the oven

v      On top of/behind/under the dishwasher

v      On your bedroom bookshelf

v      On one of the other bookshelves

           (Check all the books turned around             

           backwards & behind other books)

v      On/in your desk at home.

v      On/in your sibling’s desk

v      Under your bed.

v      Under your sibling’s bed

v      Between the sheets at the foot of your bed

v      Between your bed and the wall

v      Between the mattress and box springs

v      In the trundle bed

v      In the crib

v      In a suitcase

v      In the bag you pack for sleepovers

v      In your sleeping bag

v      On top or behind the dresser

v      In the dresser drawers

v      In the closet (check all closets)

v      Under the dirty clothes

v      Inside a couch that folds out into a bed

v      In the toy box

 

v      In the bathroom

v      On the back porch

v      In the dog house

v      In the tree house

v      In the back yard

v      By the pool

v      In the basement

v      In the guest house

v      In the play house

v      Packed with the holiday decorations.

v      Under the TV set stand

v      On top of the VCR/DVD player or

v      On top of the stereo

v      In the magazine rack

v      On the coffee table

v      Under the rug

v      At the lake house

v      On the boat

v      Ask your parents if they’ve seen it

v      Ask your sibling if they’ve seen it

v      Ask other relatives if they’ve seen it

 

Around Town

v      At the doctor's or dentist's office

v      At the  public library

v      At the church/temple/mosque library

v      At the babysitter's house

v      At a relative’s house

v      At your daycare/after-school care facility

v      At your friend's house

v      At your Mom or Dad’s house

v      At Mom or Dad’s work place

v      At another relative’s work place

v      Wherever you went on errands recently

           (bank, grocery store, post office, etc.)

v      On the boat, airplane, train

v      At the restaurant

v      At the hotel

 

At School

 

v      In your homeroom  or another classroom

v   In you backpack

v In your canvas bag

v In  ( or under ) your desk

v      In  or under your neighbor’s or friend’s desk

      (ask their permission before looking)

v In the vehicle of whomever you ride to school with (or home from school with.)

v      Wherever you hangout after school

v      On the classroom or teacher’s bookshelf

v      Way back on the top shelf of your locker

v      Way back on the top shelf of your gym locker

v      Way back on the top shelf of your friend’s locker

v      In the cafeteria, gym, band room, etc.

v      In the school office or library

v      In the school office or library where your sibling attends school.

v      Ask your teachers if they’ve seen it

v      In one of the "Lost and Found" areas

v      Ask your friends if they've seen it