Calling any librarians- query on library fines.

[Deathraystare]

My friend and I are in the same predicament. I know this is really bad but we still have library books from way back. Too scared to give them back yet as not sure how much the fines would be.

They don't seem to do 'amnesties' any more. Another friend said they only now charge you the price of the book.

I know it is bad and I do want to give them back but I don't want to go in and be told "That's £500 pounds please".

Anyone have any latest info. Not sure if it is the same all over uk . I am in West London.

Can you look on your council website on the library section? I know ours says something about maximum fine and from I recall it was less than a tenner.

Phone and ask?
Usually they just want the book back.

I’m in London and the maximum fine at my local library is only £5. I assume that’s per book.

If you don't take a book back my local library just charges you the book cost. We lost one of my ds library books and I had to pay the cost of it in coins into a machine at the library entrance. Every coin jingle shouting "thief!"

Thanks so much and thanks for not telling me off. Believe you me I am cross at myself I came across them years later when tidying up!

I will look on the website now.

There'll be a maximum amount and it shouldn't be that much. Not sure where you are, but for example Ealing libraries say £10 per book, so unless you've got 50 books you wouldn't be asked for £500 Definitely check online, all library services will make their fees clear online, and then just go for it - you'll feel much better for having given them back!

Whoops, cross posted good luck and don't beat yourself up about it too much! I'm a librarian and I've always got overdue books

Apparently it is 25p a day onwards - so the longer you leave it......

There'll be a maximum amount and it shouldn't be that much

Apparently they say not. I am doomed! So are they - I cannot afford to give the books back! They are years overdue!! Hardly encouraging is it?!

Watching .... I left a library book in hospital ten years ago when my dc was in there. Never crossed the threshold since ...

Have you moved house since taking them out? In many authorities you can give your name and address, there might be a record under old address, but if they ask if that’s you just say it isn’t.
Library fines that aren’t capped, have amnesties or time limits are counterproductive as they prevent library users returning.

Can you not just leave them on the desk and run away? If they haven’t chased you for them after all this time. Or have they?

I've still got books I forgot to take back to the library from nearly 30 years ago

Do they have automatic return booths? You could return the books via one of them, fines will be added to your account. Just won’t be able to use the account with the fine outstanding. There should be a maximum fine per book of around £7 /£8, regardless of how long you’ve had them. Rules vary slightly in each area.

How, exactly, do you think they will make you pay?

Could you drop them off and run?

The staff are human - promise! Just go up to the desk and say that you've found these books and they're really very overdue. Can you return them please?

They'll be glad to get them back. If you don't want to pay the fine, just walk away when they're discharged from your record. You'd need to pay the fine if you want to borrow other books in future but not otherwise.

How, exactly, do you think they will make you pay?

Tbh they have never emailed or sent a note. It has been decades but of course I have not since usd library for taking out books etc and have avoided using their computers because they now expect you to join rather than just pay to use the facilities(though I did years ago).

It's usually cost of the book plus processing I thought?

I was late with some books, was fined but couldn't pay it on the day as I'd literally run in to the library without my purse. Then I didn't end up going again for a while. When I did go back, it was around 12 months I think, the fine had been removed from my account.

The max fine per book is £7.50 at my local library.

When I divorced my abusive husband (about 20 years ago), he wouldn’t let me take my belongings for MONTHS. I was a prolific reader and had several library books out which I couldn’t get back. When I finally did, I took a deep breath and returned them, apologising and explaining what had happened. I was fined £67.50 which meant I ate toast for a week as I couldn’t afford anything else.
I’ve never quite forgiven the library service!

That's horrible, PeachNut.

It happens. I still have a couple from uni, many years ago! Just post or drop books in, even nicer if you stop and explain. You might not be able to get books out if you drop and run. If you feel shy, you could say they are someone elses' books that you 'found' :)

Peachnut that is awful. They could at the very least said pay us a bit a week?! Too harsh.

I owed £50 on mine - it was ridiculous and I had no intention of paying. I spoke to them and they agreed and wiped the fine. I think I said I'd been ill.