Library service makes £45k from charges and fines

Suffolk Libraries made £45,888 from overdue charges and lost books in 2024

A county library service made more than £45,000 from fines and charges last year.

Suffolk Libraries has run the county's library service since August 2012 with tens of locations available.

Figures released by the service revealed the income made last year would not be enough to fund replacing all of the 7,683 books that were lost.

Paul Howarth, director of audiences and content at Suffolk Libraries, said the main reason it issued charges was to encourage people to return the books for others to enjoy.

In 2024, the service made £45,888 from overdue charges and lost books.

Email reminders are sent to customers when books are required to be returned and according to Suffolk Libraries, it is easy to renew items online or in person.

Readers are able to borrow books for three weeks and can renew them six times unless they are reserved by other customers.

They are also able to continue borrowing books unless they have more than £14 of charges on their account.

Overdue charges have a maximum amount of £7.35 per item, however customers are not charged for overdue children's books.

Suffolk Libraries has locations all across the county and has been operating since 2012

Mr Howarth said £7.35 was also the average cost of a standard book if a customer lost or did not return it.

Last year the service saw 7,683 items (0.3% of total physical library book loans) classed as lost - which meant the item was not returned or the customer told the library it was lost or damaged.

It meant it could cost the service £56,470 to replace these items.

However, Mr Howarth stressed that the service cherished its books and wanted "as many items to be available for people to borrow as possible".

Anyone concerned about charges on their account can speak with library staff.