No fines for UL students for overdue library books

This month marks the first full year of NO FINES and NO DUE BACK date on library books. The library at the University of Limerick introduced this very welcome change to the book borrowing experience for students last September, and following a review the library has decided to permanently remove library fines, and automatically renew loans.

The anxiety of a financial penalty served as a deterrent for some students, who did not borrow books as they were too afraid they’d forget to return them on time and incur a fine. We understand that sometimes life can get in the way of returning books on time, and we wanted to make sure that there were no barriers to borrowing library books.   

This shift in policy is a reflection of the library's commitment to making its resources more accessible and supporting the student experience. These changes have been so well-received that other university and public libraries in Ireland are following suit. In addition to being able to access hundreds of thousands of ebooks and online learning material via the library, students at UL can now avail of longer loan periods for printed books, without fear of penalties or fines.   Overall, this is an incredibly positive development that is making a meaningful impact on the student experience. The University’s dedication to making their resources more accessible and removing barriers to educational materials is a testament to their commitment to supporting student success.