Library late fees get overdue reform

Whether blocking students out of course registration or lightening an undergrad's wallet, library late fees can prove just as costly as a semester's textbook bill.

In response to increasing frustration, library officials will be looking to new reforms this summer -- including timely e-mail notification of overdue books -- to help students avoid fees and to keep library resources accessible, rather than lost under dorm room beds.

Students said this development is long overdue, especially considering UB's late fees are among the highest in the SUNY system.

With the latest improvements, students will be able to view current loans of UB material online, and e-mail notifications will help lenders dodge nightmarish late fees.

The current policy sends overdue notices to students' permanent home addresses. By the time it reaches home, late fees are oftentimes already substantial.

"We are very excited that we will be able to alert people prior to due dates to remind them to renew or return items," said Janiece Kiedrowski, circulation coordinator for Arts and Sciences Libraries. "E-mail will eventually become the primary method of notification."

Though this improvement will provide students immediate feedback, some said the change is way past due.

"My late fee cost me $18 simply because I was never adequately notified that (the materials I checked out) were late," said Kyle Anderson, a sophomore theater technology major.

According to library officials at the University of Rochester, a similar e-mail system was integrated there years ago for their undergraduates, leaving UB students wondering why technology hasn't been updated here earlier.

"I'm glad to see the (UB) libraries are working a little harder to pull themselves into the 21st century," Anderson said.

Aside from problems with traditional snail mail notification, UB library fees are also among the highest when compared with SUNY counterparts. Under current late fee guidelines, regular, non-reserved materials accrue fines at a rate of 50 cents per day per item, for a maximum of $20 per item.

According to late fee procedures on other SUNY library Web sites, both Brockport and Geneseo enforce a 25 cents per day penalty with a $15 per item maximum. In addition, Binghamton University only implements a 10-cent fine and $10 maximum.

Although UB has pricier late fees than fellow state universities, book replacement cost is expensive across the board.

If library material is lost, students are charged the cost of the book (as listed in BooksInPrint.com or Amazon.com) plus a processing fee of $25. Though late fees can only add up to a maximum of $20, replacement fees have no such limits.

"There have been a couple of instances where someone has been charged for the replacement of a video, which amounted to nearly $400," said Judy Adams-Volpe, director for communication and development for Arts and Science Libraries.

While students are usually to blame for late fees and replacement costs, clerical mistakes do occur.

Mike Korona, a junior management major, was falsely billed for a photocopied article on reserve because the library staff re-shelved the item without checking it back in. A week later, a notice was sent to his house saying that he owed hundreds of dollars for the misplaced material.

"I immediately went to the library to appeal the fine, but it was quite a hassle considering all the other work I had to do," Korona said.

Officials assure that circulation supervisors carefully consider such library fee appeals, and if mistakes are discovered, they are promptly corrected.

"Our patrons can discuss their library account at any library circulation desk," Kiedrowski said. "We always strive to work out an acceptable solution."

Late fee reduction will not be addressed in this summer's reform, but a greater integration of online capabilities, including e-mail notification, will become a reality.

"Students should take notice that these fees add up fast, and that lost items can be pricey," Adams-Volpe said. "We also hope that students know that books can already be renewed online and that more improvements are to come."