It is best to avoid library fines. Not only are they a complete waste of your hard-earned cash but you end up having a restriction placed on your library account meaning you can’t borrow any books until you pay.
Thankfully, it’s easy to avoid university library fines as these simple tips will show you.
How much is a university library fine?
We searched the library websites of several UK universities and found the average fine to be 20p per day per book. Most unis place a cap of around £10-£20 meaning you won’t be able to borrow any books until you pay the fine.
You can see a list of fines on your university library website.
Return your books on time
At the risk of stating the obvious, you should always attempt to return your books on time.
When you borrow a book make sure you take note of when you need to return it. You can usually view a list of the books you have out on loan and their return date on your online student profile. Nowadays, most university libraries will send you a notification via email when your books are due to be returned.
Be honest if you can’t return on time
If you know will be unable to return your books in time it is best to let the library know. For instance, if you are unwell or out of town therefore cannot physically get to the library contact them and provide proof if you have it.
Whilst the library may still decide to issue a fine you’ve got a much better chance of them waiving the fine if you are honest and give them notice. For instance, they may give you another few days to return the book.
Be sure to return the book as soon as you can and try not to make a habit of it.
Appeal the library fine
If you believe you have been fined unfairly or there was a good reason you were unable to return the book you may be able to appeal the fine.
Most university libraries have an appeals process that students can use. You will probably need to back up your appeal with evidence such as a doctor’s note to say you were ill.
Renew your books
If your books are due to be returned but you still need them it is likely you will be able to renew them. You can do this by visiting your library desk and most unis allow you to renew online as well.
Remember, you may not be allowed to renew a book that is in high demand or has been requested by another student.
Use ebooks or purchase your own copy
Rather than using physical books, you could decide to read ebooks that are available on your library website. As this is an electronic version there is no need to ‘borrow and return’ a physical copy and many students can read it at once. The majority of textbooks will have an electronic copy and most universities nowadays are extending their range of ebooks available to students. If there is a particular ebook you need but your uni library doesn’t have access you could always suggest this to them.
My university library website has a form that lets students suggest ebooks. Professors can also request that the reading list be made available as ebooks.
Another option is to purchase your own copy of the book. This can be costly so it’s probably only worth doing this if it’s a book you will need to use regularly I.e your core text. Thankfully there is no need to buy a brand new copy as there are plenty of ways to get cheaper textbooks.
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