Around £8,000 has been collected by the University of Lincoln library in fines in 2017, according to information obtained by The Linc.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, the University of Lincoln library confirmed that the total amount taken in fines in 2017 was £7,983.08 compared to over £30,000 in 2016.
The fines are imposed only for the late return of recalled/requested books.
In a stark contrast, it was found that £33,298 was collected by the University library from January to November, 2016.
In 2015 alone, £54,902 worth of fines were paid to the library.
University Librarian Ian Snowley says that the new, lower figure is a result of the fairer fines policy introduced last year.
“The much lower figure for fines is because this was the first full year of our new Library system, which introduced ‘fairer fines’. We now only charge fines if a book out on loan is requested by another library user, and then not returned by the due date. Most borrowers return books when requested resulting in fewer fines,” Mr Snowley said.
The library introduced a new automatic renewal system as a result of student feedback. Students can now keep an item for as long as they like until the book has been automatically renewed 99 times, or it is recalled by another student.
When an item is requested by another library member, books taken out on a one-week loan will not be renewed and the student will be notified two days before the due date. Meanwhile, library users who have books on a four-week loan will have seven days to return the item.
When asked what the money collected in fines will go towards, Mr Snowley said: “All Library income, including fines (except charges for lost books – which goes towards buying replacement copies) is used to ‘offset’ the overall cost of running the library service.”