Borrowers rack up thousands in library book fines

Photo: CCC

Christchurch libraries collected $316,000 in fines for overdue, damaged and lost books last year.

A staggering 4,734,658 books were issued last year. That's an increase on the 4,664,676 books issued and $292,946 in fines dished out throughout 2018.

And the Christchurch City Council currently has $235,745 in outstanding fines still to be collected.

It comes after the city council revealed the most issued book last year was British author Lee Child’s Past Tense, the 23rd book in the Jack Reacher series. The crime thriller novel series follows former United States military policeman, Jack Reacher, who wanders through the US.

Another Child book, The Midnight Line, the 22nd book in the series, was the second most issued book last year.

Adults are charged 70c per day for overdue books with a $21 maximum fine per item.

City council head of libraries and information Carolyn Robertson said the money from fines is put into the libraries general fund, which helps offset expenditure.

She said when an individual with an adult membership returns an overdue book to the library, the fine is automatically added to their membership record.

"If the fine is not paid within one month, or the customer has fines owing of $30 or more, then the customer cannot borrow any more items until such time the fine is paid,” she said.

Ms Robertson said debt collection agencies become involved when a fine exceeds $30 or once an item is more than 62 days overdue.

She said with lost or damaged items, individuals are charged the total cost of the item, plus a $21 processing fee.

“A recovery fee is only charged once an outstanding debt is referred to a debt collection agency.”

Christchurch libraries longest overdue books (due date)