Library books can be borrowed for 21 days initially, and can be renewed online, in person or by telephone up to 7 times. However, since removing fines for overdue books we have received an increasing number of complaints from customers who are unhappy about the time it takes to access books which have not been renewed or returned on time by other customers.
Rather than re-introduce fines, which we know can create a major barrier for some people accessing library services, we have recently introduced a new measure that places a temporary block on accounts with overdue books. This change is an additional reminder to encourage people to return their library books and help us to reduce the number of overdue items, improving access to our library materials for everyone.
This change also provides an opportunity to check and update customer details on our system. Customers who have registered an e-mail address with their library account receive a notification e-mail two days prior to books being due, giving them time to renew their books and prevent a block being put in place. If you are unsure if you have provided an e-mail address, please ask a member of staff next time you visit a library and we will update your account to ensure you receive the notifications.