£22k is a turn-up for the books Library cashes in on late returns

Students have been forced to fork out more than £20,000 in fines for late library books.

The University of the West of Scotland has rapped learners lending from its collection.

Faculty chiefs insist cash raked in from overdue borrowing are not used to boost the institution’s coffers.

The massive haul was revealed in a report released under freedom of information laws.

It stated: “The amount received was £22,546.92.

“When the library receives its operational budget from the university each year, a sum is already offset against anticipated fines income, roughly equal to the fines income from the previous year.

“This means that the library derives no financial benefit from fines money.

“The income from fines, therefore, would form part of the overall university budget being spent on all parts of the university’s operations.”

The uni has four libraries outside of Paisley at campuses in Ayr, Hamilton, Dumfries and London.

They hold academic texts in a range of fields, including science, the arts, engineering and business.

Students are hit with fines of £1 for books borrowed on a short-term hourly basis that are returned late.

Books borrowed for one week that miss the return date are subject to a 20p payment for the first two days — rising to 80p by the fourth day.

Learners will be hammered with a maximum fee of £ 10 for each textbook taken.

Borrowing can be suspend if materials are not returned for cash not paid.

Library bosses insist fines will be waived in “extenuating circumstances”, but doctor’s notes must be provided to prove illness. paisleycentre.co.uk