Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 714.5 (2026)

Library materials and equipment — unpurchased merchandise — evidence of intention

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. The fact that a person has concealed library materials or equipment as defined in section 702.22 or unpurchased property of a store or other mercantile establishment, either on the premises or outside the premises, is material evidence of intent to deprive the owner, and the finding of library materials or equipment or unpurchased property concealed upon the person or among the belongings of the person, is material evidence of intent to deprive and, if the person conceals or causes to be concealed library materials or equipment or unpurchased property, upon the person or among the belongings of another, the finding of the concealed materials, equipment or property is also material evidence of intent to deprive on the part of the person concealing the library materials, equipment or goods.

2. The fact that a person fails to return library materials for two months or more after the date the person agreed to return the library materials, or fails to return library equipment for one month or more after the date the person agreed to return the library equipment, is evidence of intent to deprive the owner, provided a reasonable attempt, including the mailing by restricted certified mail of notice that such material or equipment is overdue and criminal actions will be taken, has been made to reclaim the materials or equipment. Notices stating the provisions of this section and of section 808.12 with regard to library materials or equipment shall be posted in clear public view in all public libraries, in all libraries of educational, historical or charitable institutions, organizations or societies, in all museums and in all repositories of public records.

3. After the expiration of three days following the due date, the owner of borrowed library equipment may request the assistance of a dispute resolution center, mediation center or appropriate law enforcement agency in recovering the equipment from the borrower.

4. The owner of library equipment may require deposits by borrowers and in the case of late returns the owner may impose graduated penalties of up to twenty-five percent of the value of the equipment, based upon the lateness of the return.

5. In the case of lost library materials or equipment, arrangements may be made to make a monetary settlement. [C62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §709.21; C79, 81, §714.5] 85 Acts, ch 187, §2; 87 Acts, ch 56, §1; 2016 Acts, ch 1011, §121 Referred to in §808.12\n\n 714.6 Land. The mere trespass on or occupation of land, contrary to the rights of the owner thereof, is not theft. [C79, 81, §714.6] \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 2 cases, 1993–2002 · leading case: Winckel v. Von Maur, Inc., 652 N.W.2d 453 (Iowa 2002).

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Winckel v. Von Maur, Inc., 652 N.W.2d 453 (Iowa 2002). “Iowa Code § 714.5 . Defendant urges that it was entitled to immunity under section 808.”

Lenstra v. Menard, Inc., 511 N.W.2d 410 (Iowa Ct. App. 1993). “detention or search under this section by a peace officer, person employed in a facility containing library materials, merchant, or merchant’s employee does not render the person liable, in a criminal or civil action, for false arrest or false imprisonment provided the person…”

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.