Student fines at University Library dramatically reduced

The total amount of fines/replacement cost of lost books paid to the Library by students dropped by 25 per cent to £20,503 in 2007-8 compared with £27,635 the previous academic year.

But that did not stop one student from running up a rather hefty £75 fine and replacement cost for Tradition and innovation in Hellenistic poetry.

However, the largest individual fine and replacement cost in recent years was racked up by one particular reader of Gregory of Nyssa: Homilies on the Beatitudes. This cost a remorseful reader £96.59.

The University Library believes that the drop in fines paid is a result of improved communication strategy and the introduction of new services.

Since September 2007, most library communications to readers have been sent via email. This has not only reduced the use of paper, but has proved to be a much more effective means of informing readers when books need to be returned or recalls are ready for collection.

In a new move, undergraduate students, whose normal loan period was previously two weeks, can now also take advantage of vacation borrowing over the whole Christmas and Easter holidays, thus avoiding fines for late returns.

The online renewals facility introduced 18 months ago has also been greatly welcomed by readers. 77% of renewals were carried out online in 2007-08.

Rob Wallach, Secretary to the Senior Tutors’ Committee said: “The Library is to be applauded for reducing library fines paid by students and improving the service that it offers, especially the use of email reminders and on-line renewal. The extension to holiday loans also is extremely beneficial in helping undergraduates to use the vacations more effectively and meets a need that has often been requested in the past. Both initiatives are much appreciated”.

University Librarian Anne Jarvis said: “We are greatly encouraged by the introduction of our new renewal service at the Library. Whilst the cost per student of fines is small in these difficult times, the fact that students will be paying less in fines - and can renew their loans online - is a positive development.

“A Library only ever levies fines for overdue books as an incentive to have them returned so that other readers can benefit from access to these resources. At the University Library, fines income has been used to support the Library’s strategy of continuously improving services and facilities for its readers.”