Library fines

University of the Highlands and Islands did not have the information requested.

Dear University of the Highlands and Islands,

I am writing to ask about library fines during the academic year 2015/2016. For the time period starting from the first day of term, covering the next 364 days (e.g. one full year), please provide:

1. The total amount of money the library received from the payment of overdue items. Exclude costs of replacing lost books - this request solely relates to the cost of books that are returned later than their due date.

2. Information about where this money then goes (is it absorbed into a specific library budget for example? if so what one?)

3. If possible, from the figure provided in 1, break this down by

a) category of user paying fine (e.g. undergraduate, postgraduate, staff)
b) country of origin of user paying fine (e.g. France, Italy, US). If only broader categories are possible e.g. "EU", "non-EU" then please provide this instead.

Many thanks, and do let me know if you require any further clarification.

Yours faithfully,

Jack Forks

FOI, University of the Highlands and Islands

Dear Mr. Forks,

Re: Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 – Request for Information - FOI 017

I refer to your request for information received on 17th February 2017 relating to library fines.

I am writing to let you know that the University of the Highlands and Islands does not hold the information that you request. The University operates as a collegiate federal partnership comprising of thirteen further and higher education colleges, specialist colleges and research institutions and library book stock is purchased by, and is therefore the property and assets of each of our independent partners. The University has therefore not issued any library fines to students in the period 2015/16 to date nor is information about library fines collated or shared centrally.

All such fines are imposed and collected directly by these independent institutions. In addition, I understand that our partners each have differing policies in relation to library borrowing, none of which should be taken as the university's policy. Please also note that the majority of our academic partners have joint Further Education and Higher Education libraries and any responses to your questions from them would not solely relate to UHI students but would also include data relating to their FE student activity. A list of contact details for our partner organisations is available at http://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/campuses and you may wish to contact our partners directly in connection with your request.

If you are not satisfied with our response or our reasoning set-out above, you have forty working days in which to request a review of our decision.

Any request should be put in writing and should be sent to me at the address detailed at the bottom of this email.

Your request should:

(a) describe the nature of your original request; and
(b) explain the reasons why you are not satisfied with our response.

If you remain dissatisfied with how your request for information has been dealt with, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether we have handled your request properly. Information relating to your right to seek review is available from the Scottish Information Commissioner's web page at: http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/faqs.... or by contacting the Scottish Information Commissioner's Office at the following address:

Scottish Information Commissioner,
Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road, St Andrews,
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Fax: 01334 464611
E-mail: [email address]
Website: www.itspublicknowledge.info

Finally, should you wish to discuss the contents of this response then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Christine Shaw
Corporate Governance Officer
DDI / Fòn: 01847 889380

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