Crosswords0 min ago
library fines
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Ive just been hit for 15p per book for returning books a day late by the town library - where's the legality in this "fine" who sets it - when and where does the money go - no receipt was offered - is it justified by a lawmaker somewhere?
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You'll find it in the small print of the rules you signed to agree with when they issued you with your library card. The money goes towards buying new books, so you do benefit in the end. The fines are not designed to make money, they are there to discourage you from keeping books, cd's or dvd's past the allotted loan period, which restricts access for other borrowers.
Speaking as someone who wants any extention to my library named after me - because I've paid for it in fines! - I wouldn't be too upset about a few pence.
Your library will offer you a 'renew-by-phone' facility, and if it's a large library, you can probably do it on-line as well. Ask next time you go in.
Our library allows you to renew books by phone and via their website which is a real blessing, so whenever I borrow books I write the expiry date in my diary to remind me to renew. But a lot of libraries are threatened with closure in our area because the local council is under so much financial pressure so if it's a facility you value, a couple of quid in fines is probably worth paying. Incidentally, one of local criteria around here for keeping libraries open is amount of usage, so if you value your facility, persuade everybody to use it, even if they don't read the books. Just get them logged out and back again to create the traffic ! If every resident did that it might save a few libraries under current threat of closure.
Why shouldn't they. When you join the library you agree to their terms, which will include a fines for breach of contract (returning books past their due date). Much in the same why that if you belong to a video club (say blockbusters) you'll get fined for returning your videos late.
With regards to the legal aspect of this, you'll probably find that the fees were set by the library but agreed at a council commitee meeting.
The revenue for fines goes into the book fund in the libraries I work in. There is no excuse for late fines where I work as people can renew over the phone or online and can keep the book for 3 months if no one else wants it. I used to work in a library that didn't fine and people would keep books for MONTHS past their due date which is very unfair on the other customers.
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