Library announces new terms for loans
With the Library’s consultation now over, students will have, from the 3rd of September, a new loans system to contend with.
The new system is modelled on that in use by Sheffield University’s Library, and was put to students in a consultation last term. 377 responses were received.
In response to feedback however the Library will not be charging the initially suggested £5 a day fine, but has lowered it to £2, however this will be a substantial increase from the current 30p a day charged for the majority of books, or 90p if the book is requested.
The increase is justified on the Library website which states the current fines system “is treated as a loans fee by many borrowers and does not encourage return”.
User’s accounts will be frozen so that they cannot take out any books if they have one that is overdue by more than a day.
There will no longer be fines for overdue books that are not requested or part of the Key texts collection.
In another change Print copies of Journals will become reference only, meaning users will no longer be able to take them out of the Library.
Another big change is the end of vacation borrowing which allows students to take out books for the duration of the holidays, instead loan periods of 4 weeks will operate throughout the year, with no difference in fines for holidays or term time.
24-hour and 1 week loan periods will be abolished.
No changes have yet been announced tothe system for Key texts and audiovisual items of the University’s collection.
The University Library will from next year operate 24 hour opening following the trial period during summer term.
A selection of statistics and comments following the survey have been published online.
The Library is still inviting feedback on the new system, which can be sent to infodir-loansreview-group@york.ac.uk
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