by
Eva Mursidah, S.I.Pust, Iwan Juniarto, SE, and Mujiana, S.Sos

The ITS Library is a frequently visited place by students for studying, finding references, and completing assignments. Amidst busy routines, students often unconsciously leave their valuable belongings in the library. Lost items can occur anytime, especially in busy environments like libraries. In an ITS Library Instagram post titled “Forgot Something? Don’t Worry, There’s ITS Library’s Lost and Found!” the caption provides important insights about the Lost and Found service provided by ITS library, as well as common factors that cause students to lose their belongings.

The caption mentions that losing items in the library can be caused by various factors, such as busy activities, hectic daily routines, rushing due to deadlines, stress, and distractions from the surrounding environment. In this article, we will discuss further about the Lost and Found service at ITS library, how it works, and tips to prevent losing items

Why Do Students Often Lose Items in the Library?

Losing items while at ITS library is often unintentional. Here are several reasons why students frequently forget their valuable belongings:

1. Busy academic activities: When immersed in assignments or reading course materials, students’ attention is focused on these activities, making items like wallets or keys easy to forget.
2. Packed routines: Classes, organizations, and daily tasks can cause students to forget checking their belongings before leaving the library. When in a hurry, students often focus only on completing tasks or heading to their next schedule.
3. Stress and fatigue: Academic pressure and lack of rest can affect students’ memory, causing them to easily forget items on tables or chairs.
4. Environmental distractions: Conversations with friends, phone notifications, and other interruptions can split attention and make students forget their belongings.

From these causes, it’s evident that forgetting or losing items isn’t just due to negligence but also results from environmental conditions and daily situations that greatly affect students’ concentration. Therefore, the presence of Lost and Found service at ITS library greatly helps students find their left-behind items safely and quickly.

How Does the Lost and Found Service Work at ITS Library?

The myITS Lost & Found service is present to facilitate ITS academic community in reporting and searching for lost items within the campus environment. As part of the digitalization effort and service efficiency improvement, this system can be accessed through https://lostfound.its.ac.id/. There are 14 Lost & Found posts at ITS, one of which is located at the ITS Library. The lost item security procedure at ITS Library includes several stages. First, found items have their details recorded, such as type, description, time, and location of discovery at the information desk. This data is important to facilitate identification by owners. Second, items are stored in a secure and controlled location, accessible only by relevant staff. Third, for important items like identity cards or wallets, the library can announce their discovery through official social media or information boards. Fourth, item owners can claim their belongings at ITS Library or other posts (Department of Informatics, PLT, DKPU, DKV, TU SKPB, Actuarial Science, Business Management, Industrial Engineering, DRPM, Civil Engineering, SKK, Physics, and Central Canteen) by providing item descriptions to staff. Owner identity verification is performed before items are returned. The organized system and procedures, plus support from responsive staff, make the ITS Library Lost & Found service run efficiently and provide security for students who lose items.

Tips to Prevent Leaving Items at the Library

The ITS Library’s Instagram post titled “Forgot Something? Don’t Worry, There’s ITS Library’s Lost and Found!” also provides tips for students to be more careful and avoid losing items at the library. Here are some additional tips to prevent losing items:

• Check belongings before leaving the library: Make it a habit to check items before leaving the table. Ensure important items like phones, keys, and wallets are in your bag.
• Use visible places to store important items: Place valuable items in easily visible locations. If items are in plain sight, we’re more likely to remember taking them when leaving the library.
• Use organizer bags: For small items, use organizer bags to prevent them from being left behind. All small items can be placed in one secure location and not easily overlooked.
• Label personal belongings: If possible, label frequently used personal items like books or laptops with your name. This will facilitate identification if items are lost and found through the Lost and Found service.
• Avoid placing items in multiple locations: Try to keep all items in one place or area, such as a specific table or bookshelf. Avoid spreading items across various places that are difficult to monitor.
• If you find items, immediately hand them over to ITS Library’s lost and found service staff.

Benefits of Lost and Found Service for Students and Library

The Lost and Found service at ITS library not only benefits students but also helps the library create a comfortable learning atmosphere. Here are some main benefits of this service:

1. Helps students find items quickly: With this service, students need not worry about losing items. Found items will be recorded and stored properly for easy retrieval.
2. Reduces anxiety and panic: Losing items, especially valuable ones, can cause students to panic. The Lost and Found service helps reduce this anxiety by providing a specific place for lost items.
3. Improves the library’s image as a safe place: The presence of Lost and Found service shows that ITS library cares about visitor comfort. This creates an image of the library as a safe and orderly place.
4. Minimizes loss of valuable items: Losing valuable items like identity cards or gadgets can cause material losses. This service helps reduce such losses by ensuring these items can be claimed by their owners.