---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-5-54. Prohibition of concealing or removing library property.
collection: code
id: 20-5-54
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-5-54 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-5-54
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-5-54.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-5-54/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch3-18-(v17a)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=10d12596_0#page=486
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-5.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-5-53.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-5-55.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: EDUCATION / LIBRARIES / LOCAL AND REGIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES / COUNTY AND REGIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-5-54. Prohibition of concealing or removing library property.

Any person who, without authority and with the intention of depriving the public library of the ownership of such property, willfully conceals a book or other public library property, while still on the premises of such public library, or willfully or without authority removes any book or other property from any public library shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; provided, however, that, if the replacement cost of the public library property is less than $25.00, the punishment shall be a fine of not more than $250.00. Proof of the willful concealment of any book or other public library property while still on the premises of such public library shall be prima-facie evidence of intent to violate this Code section.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-5-54, enacted by Ga. L. 1984, p. 1005, § 1; Ga. L. 1985, p. 149, § 20.