One of the common stereotypes of those entering college is that the library can become a second home. While that may be true, students can also suffer the consequences of not returning what belongs to it.
Earlier this summer, the Ned R. McWherter Library increased its books overdue fine from 10 to 25 cents a day after the nine-day grace period following the actual overdue date.
After 30 days, daily fines stop, but a $10 processing fee and a replacement cost of the book is added. If the item is returned after 30 days, then just the processing and overdue fee applied, but that still totals $17.50.
Stacey J. Smith, the library department’s supervisor, said the increased fine came from the need to be comparable with the other Tennessee institutions.
“Many other schools were already charging 25 to 50 cents,” Smith said.
Smith said she and the dean of libraries had been talking about the decision for a while and made the daily quarter fine the new overdue rate, which took effect on July 1.
Part of the decision stemmed from students not returning their loaned items, Smith said, but overall, the fines should not take such a huge toll on students and faculty.
“We needed some sort of a motivating factor,” Smith said.
However, people usually return their books back on time and are given a long checkout period as it is, she said.
Smith also said even if students have problems returning the books, they receive e-mail notifications of when to return the items. The e-mails are sent to the student’s University e-mail accounts. Therefore, Smith suggested students either pay attention to their e-mails or forward that account to their personal ones.
However, despite the positive sides of the decision, some students and faculty still feel certain fees should not be included because of certain students’ financial boundaries. Others said a raise in the overdue fee would not really motivate students to return their items on time.
“I understand (the overdue fee raise), but as a student I feel some leniency should be done,” said Michael McCollum, a sophomore early childhood development major.
McCollum, who does not work and lives off student loans with his wife, said the majority of students do not work and mainly focus on school.
“I think 25 cents is a little stiff for any college student,” he said. “Some students cannot afford it and for some this (going to school) is their career.”
Although he has not checked out a book since he came to the campus two years ago, William Johnson, a media specialist in the Department of Communication, said overdue fines almost kept him from graduating.
Johnson, who attended Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss. said he had to pay over $110 in overdue fines. Johnson’s charges came from two unreturned books he had borrowed his freshman year.
To this day Johnson said he is still not able to find the books. “Even if I had returned the books I still would have had a $40 fine,” Johnson said.
Although the incident taught Johnson a few things about responsibility, he said the fines are still too much.
“It’s not that students are irresponsible, but they simply forget,” Johnson said.
In addition, Johnson also said the average college student has other responsibilities outside school, such as work and off campus organizations.
Antavius Flagg, a sophomore psychology major, said he understands the fines are necessary, but after a while it becomes too excessive to keep charging people, especially on a day to day basis.
“I don’t see how it motivates someone,” Flagg said. “If people weren’t paying for 10 cents a day, I don’t see the point in raising it to 25 cents a day.”
Smith said it should not be such a big deal because other campuses’ library fees are even higher and their item checkout period can be even shorter.
According to information from other colleges Web sites, at least four state colleges charge $10 to $25 compared to The U of M’s $7.50 and have a 25 cents per day overdue fee.
