library books

Savvy_Sue

klondyke wrote:

What really riles us is students in college libraries keeping expensive textbooks, especially as , eg, most FE colleges have a no fine policy. Grrrrrr. So as we can't fine, we are likely to charge full replacement cost instead, plus banning from the library or even the college, if unpaid, so beware! (Amazing how many people suddenly find a 'lost' book when faced with a high charge - happens a lot with rare books and limited editions, when replacement would be far higher than original cost.)

Used to be in Uni Admin, and before degree results were given out the library would give a list of final year students with unreturned books. No books (or payment made), no degree. Academics were warned not to divulge even a hint of how well the student had done, although as you can imagine students used to cough up pdq under this threat.

I'm sure we did have a fines system in place, although I can't be sure - can't imagine how a library could function without such a deterrent! Sounds insane ...

klondyke

Savvy_Sue wrote:

Used to be in Uni Admin, and before degree results were given out the library would give a list of final year students with unreturned books. No books (or payment made), no degree. Academics were warned not to divulge even a hint of how well the student had done, although as you can imagine students used to cough up pdq under this threat.

I'm sure we did have a fines system in place, although I can't be sure - can't imagine how a library could function without such a deterrent! Sounds insane ...

The no fines policy in (some) FE results from the idea that all FE students are poor little mites who can't afford to pay fines - therefore they should get away with anything. The number of times it came up in staff meetings ..... but the do-gooders always won. Yet it doesn't really do the culprits any good in the long run as they never learn responsibility. We did withhold exam results for a while, but I seem to remember some 'human rights' issue about it, and in any case students aren't as bothered about GCSE results as degrees. I have heard that some FE colleges are beginning to get over their moral high horse and are beginning a very low fine system!!

chugalug

I dont think thats true in all FE colleges, I seem to remember being charged for late books. Happens all the time now I'm at Uni as I cant seem to get it together to return things on time. Not just books but also DVD's and anything else I borrow. Did once have to grovel at the public library desk as books were months late (I hate doing that in full view of everyone tutting). In the end came to an agreement and I was allowed to borrow again. Didnt put me off though as I still do it!! Not very moneysaving.

juno

davidcampbell wrote:

on a serious note (ill try) i returned a book to my local library about 2 years late. just found it one day in my house. for some reason they either didnt contact me re lateness or the letter didnt arrive.

anyway i cant remember what they fined me but it was a pitiful amount considering i was 2 years late.

DC

Our libraries have a cap on the fine you pay. So no matter how late it is, if you return it you only pay about £5 per book.

buses7675

Hi All,

In our Uni Library to renew books in person you needed both the book and ID card. One day I forgot my ID card, but did have the book, and asked if I could renew, as I knew my student ID number.

I was told that I couldn't do this in person, but bizzarely, I could phone up and do a renewal telling them exactly the same info over the phone!!!! Strange!

Either way I forgot to phone later in the day so paid a massive 5p fine the next day for each of two books!

Our Uni did have a policy were by if you had any outstanding fines/loans from the library they wouldn't let you graduate, although I don't know personally of anyone who was stopped from graduating due to this, though I suppose they'd contact anyone who this applied to in advance and ask you to pay up!

Cheers

Steve

littlelibrarylass

in our public libraries they don't link memberships together unless the person has acted as a guarantor for a child.
there is also a cap on the amount of fines per book, but unpaid debts are sent to the bailiffs at £50.

pug_in_a_bed

at my univeristy you absoultely cannot graduate if you have outstanding fines (as i almost found out!!)

my dad is a menace with the library: he reads like a demon but he loses the books constantly and has to buy them loads, honest they walk. he was banned for a good while actually whilst he was working abroad and obviously didnt know he was being charged for a lost book - he paid them on return to the uk after a year because he loves the libraries so much!

we do have a childs book about rocks from 1973 still on the shelf though, lol

culpepper

my daughter has a teenage ticket which charges adult fines.
She is always forgetting to take books back on time so quite a lot of her pocketmoney goes on fines. She doesnt like it but she is learning. We go twice a week so she has no excuse.
The only time I have intervened myself was when they suddenly announced a huge fine on a tuesday when they hadnt mentioned her having anything overdue on the thursday,I think the librarian who dealt with her (a neighbour of ours) doesnt like her and decided to conveniently not mention she should renew them.The head librarian was suprised noone had told her when she borrowed a book on the thursday and halved the fine.