Thousands of library books in Kirklees overdue

Overdue notices will be sent out to those with books and other items - nearly 36,000 in all.

The recent Kirklees-wide amnesty led to more than 1,300 books being returned. But that still leaves a massive 35,983 which are more than six weeks overdue, some 5.3per cent of the entire lending stock.

And there are no plans to hold a second fines amnesty in the near future.

Potential fines on unreturned books, DVDs and CDs are worth around £500,000. The three-day amnesty gave people the chance to take items back without incurring fines, which are usually charged at 10p per day.

Overdue periods range from two weeks to 10 years.

Charges are capped at £210 for books and £25 for CDs and DVDs.

A council spokesman said: “The amnesty was successful in encouraging borrowers to return overdue items. Those who still have outstanding items will be sent overdue notices and if that fails they may be sent a bill for the items involved.

“The books we have got back mean they can go back on the shelves for other people to enjoy.”

In the amnesty, books were returned from as far back as 2007.

The council is now introducing a new system for dealing with overdue books. Overdue notices can be sent out free of charge via email. Those who want to receive information in this way should call at their local library and give their email address.

Coun Mary Harkin, Cabinet member for libraries, said the number of items still outstanding was ‘a large amount’.

“There could be any number of reasons, such as people moving house and forgetting about the books.

“But an amnesty is a good way of increasing stock on the shelves. Things are tight just now and boosting the lending stock is a great benefit.”