Over 9,000 books overdue from County Derry libraries with £1,800 in fines outstanding

Almost 9,000 books are currently overdue from libraries in County Derry, while more than £1,800 in fines are outstanding.

Figures released by Libraries NI in response to an FOI request show that 8,720 books are currently overdue across nine libraries in County Derry, with £1,885.05 due for outstanding fines from January 2016 to present.

Magherafelt Library is currently waiting for the most books to be returned, with 2,092 currently overdue and £429.50 in fines outstanding. This is followed by Coleraine Library, with 1,510 books to be returned and £430.65 in fines outstanding, while 1,668 books are to be returned to Limavady Library and £385.00 of fines are outstanding.

Garvagh Library is waiting for the least number of books to be returned, with 255 overdue and £30.00 of fines to be paid, closely followed by Kilrea Library, where 388 books are overdue and £59.10 of fines are outstanding.

A spokesperson for Libraries NI said that it is important for library users to renew or return overdue books.

“Overdue books have an impact on all library users by limiting the choice available for other people to borrow and if not returned, this has a financial impact on the service by restricting provision and the purchase of new stock,” the spokesperson said.

“To support users, customers can borrow from and return to any of our wide network of public libraries and mobile libraries across Northern Ireland and to prevent books from becoming overdue, library members can access the catalogue via the Libraries NI website where they can renew online.”

“Books are a very important asset to us and we would ask everyone to have a look through their book collections at home and return any books to their local library.”