If a library book you borrowed at Punggol Regional Library is missing, open the borrower’s NLB loan record and identify the exact copy. If you cannot find it after checking the places it was last used, report the loss to NLB. You can approach library staff at One Punggol during staffed hours or contact NLB through its enquiry channel.
Ask NLB to confirm the amount and how the loan will be closed before buying a replacement. The amount shown for a copy at a bookshop can differ from the charge for a lost library copy. If you think you already returned the book, ask NLB to check the return before treating the book as lost.
- Look up the title, due date and item number if shown.
- If you recall returning it, give NLB the branch, date and approximate time.
- Ask what the charge covers and what happens to the loan record.
- Keep the response and any receipt until the account is settled.
Identify the exact loan
Open the loan list for the person who borrowed the book. For a family with several library accounts, start with the borrowing receipt if you still have it. Use the full title, author and volume number when there are several books in a series. Take down the item number if your record shows it.
Think about the book’s last journey. Check the bag it came home in, the stack waiting to go back and any place where it was read outside the house. If you have a matching copy at home, compare the library barcode. A matching cover alone can belong to a different copy.
Tell NLB whether it was lost or may have been returned
If the book went missing before return, tell staff you cannot locate the borrowed copy. If you remember putting it into a bookdrop, explain where and when. Mention any other titles returned in the same batch. A receipt or a record showing that the other items cleared may help identify which transaction to check.
A short message can give staff the details in one pass. For example, “My loan list still shows this title. I remember returning three books at the One Punggol bookdrop on Saturday afternoon. The other two are no longer on the list. Could you check this item?” Keep account details within NLB’s official channels. NLB contact information
Confirm the charge and close the loan
Ask for the amount that applies to the item and whether there is a separate overdue amount. Check the account again after settling it. NLB explains that outstanding charges suspend borrowing privileges and sets out the available payment options. NLB payment guidance
Keep the payment record with any NLB reply until the account reflects the outcome. If you find the book after reporting it, contact NLB with the item number and any case or payment reference and ask how it wants the item handled.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy the same title online as a replacement?
Ask NLB how it handles the loss before spending money on a replacement. Give staff enough information to identify the exact library copy.
What if I find the book with water damage?
Keep the book and let staff assess it. Explain what happened and ask whether to take it to a service counter. More about NLB loans and charges in Punggol
