Herefordshire’s week-long library amnesty

Herefordshire Libraries are having a fines amnesty of all items returned between Monday, April 7, and Monday April 14.

This means that anyone returning overdue items - such as books found lurking in the bedroom, CDs in a cupboard or those pesky paperbacks that slide under the sofa - can be reassured that no fines will be charged and no questions will be asked.

Any fines and charges due on items which have already been returned - irrespective of the timescale - can also be erased; so if you've been too embarrassed by how much you owe, come back to your library for a warm welcome!

Cllr Blackshaw, cabinet member for economic development and community services, said: "We're keen for all our customers to have a chance to wipe the slate clean and hopefully welcome back customers who may have been reluctant to return with overdue items on their conscience".

It is also a good opportunity to start afresh as the library service introduces some changes to its fines and charges from April 15.

Fines for adult books will increase to 17p per day and the cost of hiring DVDs rated PG and above and Playstation® games will be £2.50 per week - which is still a bargain compared to hire shops.

Requesting a book which is not available in Herefordshire Libraries will still cost £2.50 but if the book has to be obtained from another authority there will be an additional £3.50 charge.

Children's fines will stay at 5p per day and there are still no fines for under 5s.

Bookstart and Bookstart Plus offer a package of free books and information to babies and toddlers, through health visitors and childcare providers.

Customers who are visually impaired or have other disabilities which affect their ability to read books are also offered free talking books, CDs, DVDs, videos and will not be charged fines.

Various other charges are also changing - please visit your local library or visit www.herefordshire.gov.uk/libraries for full details of all the fines and charges.