The thick plastic player with the ridges is pretty resilient, but above that is a reflective layer for the laser, and a protective lacquer layer (often printed on). If those layers get damaged and delaminate due to harsh handling, UV / heat, and / or moisture getting between them then the laser will have difficulties focusing and thus reading a disc.
Should still last years in such an exposed public free library setting where long-term preservation is probably not a goal, and get way more use out of them than sitting in personal closets where they’d last longer.
It’s probably also an attempt to dominate a woman by trying to force her into doing what he wants.