The library has a generous loans policy and does not charge fines for overdue loans.  

Loan items may be borrowed for four weeks and renewed twice (unless reserved by another reader).  This gives borrowers up to 12 weeks before items are recalled.  

Two weeks into this borrowing period all items could be subject to recall by other library members. Please return items when requested to do so.

Inter-library loan items may be borrowed for three weeks and renewed for a further three weeks, giving users up to six weeks usage (subject to restrictions of external inter-library service).  

Users who do not return loan items within 14 days of receiving an overdue or recall notice receive an invoice letter.  At this point the library system bars their account.  

They then have 14 days to return or pay the replacement fee for the outstanding item or items before their access to library resources is suspended and their names passed to our Finance team for recovery of the debt.  

Users whose accounts are fully suspended three times or more risk permanent exclusion from the library. 

Process for suspension or exclusion from the library

Users have an obligation to return items promptly and are responsible for reading library communications and ensuring their contact details are up to date (see the library service charter).  

Failure to return loans, over a lengthy period, jeopardises the library’s ability to honour its commitment to ensure fair access to resources and services for all library users via an equitable collection management policy.  

In the case of unreturned or overdue inter-library loan items, this incurs substantial additional costs for the library service. The British Library charges a £115 plus VAT replacement cost per item not returned within 12 weeks (more may be charged if the item is particularly expensive to replace). It also risks the permanent withdrawal of inter-library services by the British Library and other providers.