Community news

We are implementing significant updates this August to improve the borrowing experience for students and staff. 

We will eliminate late fines for items starting this August. This policy change covers books, DVDs, documents, and other physical items, including those that are overdue or have been recalled. The aim is to reduce financial stress and encourage a more positive borrowing experience. However, fines will still apply to laptop loans and Interlibrary loan materials, and invoicing for unreturned or lost items will remain in place to ensure the return of valuable resources. 

In a gesture of goodwill, we will also waive all existing fines. This move is expected to be well received by many students and staff, freeing them from the burden of past fines and encouraging full use of the library’s resources without worry. 

Since the library opened in 1961, we have maintained a 'textbook' collection under various names, including the Short Loan Collection and, more recently, the 7 Day Loan. This collection will now be integrated into the Main Collection with a new, user-friendly loan period. Starting this month, all physical books will be issued for a six-week period, with automatic renewals and allowing users ample time to utilise their borrowed materials. 

To manage this transition, our Shelving Team will relabel approximately 120,000 books over the coming year, covering the current 7-day loan stickers with black dots. The AV collection will remain on a 7-day loan period, while the recall and reservation systems will remain unchanged to ensure efficient access to high-demand materials. The auto-renewal system will also continue to operate as usual, automatically extending loan periods for items not requested by other users. 

For more information about these updates and other library services, visit our website or follow our social media channels using the hashtag #LibraryGlowUp. Enjoy your enhanced library experience!