About Fines and our Fines Policies

We charge fines on any items which are not returned by the due date and have not been automatically renewed.



Fines are charged to encourage the prompt return of all items so that other library users can access the material that they need.

Another user may reserve an item that you have out on loan. If this happens, you will receive an email notifying you that an item has not been renewed or has been recalled:

  • One week loans: you will receive an email 2 days before the item is due to be returned letting you know that it will not renew.
  • Four week loans: you will receive an email letting you know the item has been recalled. Your loan will have an adjusted due date and you will then have 7 days to return it.

Please ensure you read every email from the Library.

Failure to return a reserved item by the due date given will incur a 50p per day late return fine, up to a maximum of £10 per item.

If your item goes overdue and you have extenuating circumstances, such as illness, bereavement or caring responsibilities please let us know as soon as possible. Email us at [email protected] or phone us on 01522 886222.

We do not accept holiday or “I am not in university this week” as acceptable reasons for not returning reserved items on time. Library resources are limited and must be made available to as many users as possible. We do, however, encourage reserved items to be returned by signed for post. Please post them to:



University Library University of Lincoln
Brayford Pool
Lincoln
LN6 7TS

How to pay

If you do incur a fine you can pay at the library enquiry desk or online via your library account.

Your borrowing rights will not be affected if your fines are under £10. If you have fines of £10 and over you cannot borrow more items until the fines are paid or reduced to under £10. We do take part payments. If you do need to borrow items and you have a fine over £10 then please speak to library staff at the enquiry desk and they may be able to help you.

Top tip: If you are going on holiday or are not at University for a week then please log onto your account and renew your library books yourself before you go. You can then see if any are reserved before you go on holiday and arrange to post them back in time.

Inter-library loans fines



Inter library loans are books borrowed from another institution. These are due back on very specific days given by the date inside the book and cannot be renewed. Overdue inter-library loans are charged at a rate of 50p per day until returned. The British Library charges a minimum of £184 if an item is lost or very overdue. You will be invoiced for this and lose all borrowing rights until this is paid.