Library fines

nedward

Lost a book from the library before the holliers, what fines would I have to pay? Or should I just renew it till 2020?

Podge_irl

You have to pay to replace the book along with an administrative fee (not sure how much). I think....I've never actually lost a book from the library. There is no way to avoid the fine.

rjt

There is a limit to the number of times you can renew (I can't remember exactly, but around two months I think). They also apparently won't let you graduate if you have outstanding fines (although this may well be an empty threat used against us poor gullible freshers).

According to the library site, the fine is the cost of the book plus 50 euro admin fee.

Podge_irl

rjt wrote: »

They also apparently won't let you graduate if you have outstanding fines (although this may well be an empty threat used against us poor gullible freshers).

It's not. You can get stopped from graduating over ridiculously small fines

Degsy

Podge_irl wrote: »

It's not. You can get stopped from graduating over ridiculously small fines

This is actually true.Technically you can be prevented from graduating if you have any fines at all or any overdue items.In practise the fine needs to be more than 15 euros before a letter is sent out.Be aware also that there's a charge of 25 euro to send the letter to recover the 15 euro so it ups the fine to 35 quid.Any lost books must be paid for plus and administrative fee of 50 euro.If you've lost a book its better to come clean and talk to a staff member,we should be bale to work something out.If you've lost a book and its still on your card,you wont be able to graduate. Note also that if you have more that 10 euro in fines on your card you wont be permitted to borrow books so its wise to get any fines sorted as quickly as possible.

Boston

Are you sure about the 10 euro bit? I've handed over a lot of money in fines back in the day, The largest being 20 euro in one go when super fines came in.

Tricity Bendix

Degsy wrote: »

This is actually true.Technically you can be prevented from graduating if you have any fines at all or any overdue items.In practise the fine needs to be more than 15 euros before a letter is sent out.Be aware also that there's a charge of 25 euro to send the letter to recover the 15 euro so it ups the fine to 35 quid.Any lost books must be paid for plus and administrative fee of 50 euro.If you've lost a book its better to come clean and talk to a staff member,we should be bale to work something out.If you've lost a book and its still on your card,you wont be able to graduate. Note also that if you have more that 10 euro in fines on your card you wont be permitted to borrow books so its wise to get any fines sorted as quickly as possible.

It costs 15 quid to send a letter?

Crash

That reminds me, must clear off my library debts at the start of term this year. Degsy wanna check how much they are for me?

John

Degsy wrote: »

This is actually true.Technically you can be prevented from graduating if you have any fines at all or any overdue items.In practise the fine needs to be more than 15 euros before a letter is sent out.Be aware also that there's a charge of 25 euro to send the letter to recover the 15 euro so it ups the fine to 35 quid.Any lost books must be paid for plus and administrative fee of 50 euro.If you've lost a book its better to come clean and talk to a staff member,we should be bale to work something out.If you've lost a book and its still on your card,you wont be able to graduate. Note also that if you have more that 10 euro in fines on your card you wont be permitted to borrow books so its wise to get any fines sorted as quickly as possible.

Just a question I've often pondered about lost books, what is the policy with out of print books? If someone lost a copy of the current edition of an easily available textbook then obviously you'd know the replacement cost of the item fairly easily but if it was an out of print and rare book (granted these are not likely to be lending copies) that can only bought on the collector's market, what then? Would the student have to reimburse you for the original price of the book or the current market value? Or is it some standard fee?

Podge_irl

John wrote: »

Just a question I've often pondered about lost books, what is the policy with out of print books? If someone lost a copy of the current edition of an easily available textbook then obviously you'd know the replacement cost of the item fairly easily but if it was an out of print and rare book (granted these are not likely to be lending copies) that can only bought on the collector's market, what then? Would the student have to reimburse you for the original price of the book or the current market value? Or is it some standard fee?

I've often wondered that too. Surely some people would find it easier to borrow a book then "lose" it then source the book for themselves.

Unshelved

If you lose a book, at the very least you will be charged the price of the replacement and a handling fee of €50. You will be charged outstanding fines also. You may not replace the book yourself. If a book is out of print then the Library will source the book from an antiquarian book dealer.

If you have outstanding fines or Library books still in your possession you will not be allowed graduate. If you have outstanding fines of less than €10 you can borrow but you will not be allowed to renew books online or to order books from Bookstacks or Santry online.

As for this -

It costs 15 quid to send a letter?

- the fine is intended as a deterrent. As with all Library fines, if they weren't there then students would never return books, to the detriment of all.

Tricity Bendix

Unshelved wrote: »

the fine is intended as a deterrent. As with all Library fines, if they weren't there then students would never return books, to the detriment of all.

But the book has been returned at this stage. The issue at hand is outstanding fines. What actually happens is that people are fined when the library informs them they have to pay the outstanding fines. It just seems a little bit wacky to me. Why can't the library simply inform the student that they cannot graduate until they pay the fine? I see no reason why this has to turn in to a cash cow.

xeduCat

AFAIK it's to encourage people to pay early and in full, i.e. a deterrent to discourage people from allowing fines to build up - chasing up fines is time that could be better spent on actual library work so if everyone paid on time it wouldn't be a cash cow at all in that sense!

John

Unshelved wrote: »

If a book is out of print then the Library will source the book from an antiquarian book dealer.

Ouch, I'd hate to lose a rare book then!

Degsy

John wrote: »

Ouch, I'd hate to lose a rare book then!

You'd be unlikely to be able to borrow it in the first place,most rare books must be read in EPB.