The University’s libraries are set to limit the number of fines that students can incur.

The changes are to be introduced in August and the library claims the new system “will be fairer”, with the focus being on students who keep books requested by others.

Those who return books late or don’t return them will not be fined if the item has not been requested by someone else. More books will be available for a longer loan period.

Students holding items requested by someone else will have seven days before having to returning it.

The three and seven day loan system are also set to be abolished and replaced with a standard two week loan.

A statement on the University library website said, “We want to make our loan system more responsive to demand, so that popular books circulate more quickly.”

The changes come after a Leeds Student investigation revealed that in the year 2009-10, £341,092 was collected in library fines, the highest amountin the country.

Phil Mann
Image: Leo Garbutt