How overdue is that library book?

Burnside Library maager Lindy Burford is calling out for people to return well overdue items. Picture: Keryn Stevens Source: adelaidenow

DO you have a Burnside Library copy of Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley? It is the library's most overdue book and was due back in 1995.

In fact, more than 8700 items of Burnside Library's 128,000 resources are overdue.

Burnside Library manager Lindy Burford said the number of overdue books remained relatively stable at the council-owned library which has almost a million borrowings a year.

She put most of the outstanding items down to forgetfulness and said people should not be scared to bring them back.

"We're here to provide a service, not to be telling people off and discourage them to use the library," Mrs Burford said.

She said the most commonly overdue items were student resource books and "skinny children's books which often get stuck down the side of a couch".

Library members can borrow most items for four weeks and apply for two extensions.

Borrowers are changed a fee of $1 per week when the item is overdue, with the maximum fee per item $10.50. Burnside Council has issued almost 19,500 fines so far this financial year. It issued 27,639 fines in 2011/12 and 28,846 and 2010/11.

The library held an amnesty in December but Mrs Burford was unable to quantify how many overdue items were returned during that period. The library, which also accepts donations of good-quality books, is planning another amnesty at a yet-to-be decided date.

Meanwhile, Burnside Council voted last week to introduce the one card library system, which allows users to borrow items from more than 130 libraries across SA.

The council will consider the system's up-front cost of $65,000 as part of its 2013/14 budget.

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