Dear Ella,

 

I refer to your request of 5 July 2022. The purpose of this email is to
consult with you about that request.

 

Your requested, in part, the number of fine waivers granted by the
University of Auckland library for 2020 and 2021. The University is not
able to provide this information without substantial collation or
research. We can, however, provide the total amount/value of fine waivers
for 2020 and 2021.

 

Please advise by 18 July 2022 whether you wish to amend your request from
the number of fine waivers issued in 2020 and 2021 to the total
amount/value of fine waivers issued in 2020 and 2021. If you are unwilling
to amend this part of your request, it is likely that the University will
refuse it under section 18(f) of the Official Information Act, on the
basis that the information requested cannot be provided without
substantial collation or research. If you do choose to amend your request,
under section 15(1AA) of the Official Information Act the University may
treat the amended request as a new request for the purposes of calculating
the maximum time limit for its response.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Landon Watt

Legal Advisor

Office of the Vice-Chancellor

University of Auckland

 

 

From: Ella <[1][FYI request #19829 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 5 July 2022 2:59 PM
To: legal <[2][University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - University library fines

 

Dear University of Auckland,

I am interested in the total value of University of Auckland library fines
between the years of 2019-2021.

Specifically, I would like to know:

- The total value of all library fines for late, overdue and damaged books
for between the years of 2019-2021 (inclusive), including a breakdown of
the value of fines per year.

- The value of fines for overdue books in 2021.

- The number of fee waivers granted by the library for the years of 2020
and 2021.

- Whether there is any policy of fine forgiveness in place upon the return
of lost or overdue books.

Yours faithfully,

Ella

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Dear Ella,

 

I refer to your request of 5 July 2022, as amended on 13 July 2022. The
University’s response follows:

 

“The total value of all library fines for late, overdue and damaged books
for between the years of 2019-2021 (inclusive), including a breakdown of
the value of fines per year.

“The value of fines for overdue books in 2021.”

“The amount/value of fee waivers granted by the library for the years of
2020 and 2021.”

The information requested is provided in the attached document.

 

“Whether there is any policy of fine forgiveness in place upon the return
of lost or overdue books.”

The University of Auckland’s Library and Learning Services department has
provided the following in response to your request:

 

“Waiving of fines

Since the start of COVID-19 in 2020, various approaches have been taken
towards library fines, depending on changing alert levels. Methods
employed have included bulk waiving of fines incurred during a specific
period; blanket waiving of fines being incurred on a daily basis; selected
waiving on a daily basis, or on receipt of an email from an individual
explaining their circumstances. As a rule, fines are waived once the item
has been returned rather than while the book is still on loan, but in some
cases fines may be waived without a book being returned to remove a block
preventing the user from borrowing items.

 

Lost books

Lost Item Replacement Fees are forgiven when the book is returned, unless
the item has suffered significant damage that would impact its ongoing use
e.g. comes back soaking wet or is incomplete. If an item is returned in
good condition after the replacement fee has been paid, a refund of the
replacement fee is processed.

  

Overdue fines

Overdue fines for high-demand and short loan items are forgiven during
alert levels when teaching is off-campus, but it depends on the
circumstances e.g. if a student comes into the library in person to borrow
a 2-hour loan, and is then late returning it, the fine would generally
stand. Overdue-recalled fines are forgiven during alert levels when
teaching is off-campus. Overdue fines are generally only forgiven during
on-campus teaching periods when we are notified of extenuating
circumstances for the delay in returning the item e.g. COVID,
self-isolation as household contact, or other medical conditions.

 

The Library Statute covers the conditions of borrowing, conduct of users,
fines and sanctions and other information about the use of the Library.

[1]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...

 

Yours sincerely,

Rebecca Ewert

University of Auckland

 

From: Ella <[2][FYI request #19829 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 13 July 2022 4:58 pm
To: Landon Watt <[3][email address]>
Subject: Re: 2022-OIA-0110-Ella_1

 

Dear Landon Watt,

Thank you for your response. Iwish to amend my request from
the number of fine waivers issued in 2020 and 2021 to the total
amount/value of fine waivers issued in 2020 and 2021.

Yours sincerely,

Ella

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