Universities raise £50m in library fines

British universities have raised nearly £50 million from fining students for overdue library books, figures have revealed. Top of the pile was Leeds University, which has raised more than £1.8 million in the last six years. In second place was Manchester University, which collected almost £1.3 million and in third was the University of Wolverhampton with £1.25 million. At the bottom of the table was Imperial College London, which collected just £26,703 in fines.

With fines as little as 10p for each day a book is overdue, it shows that students are returning thousands of books late each year. However, many are never returned at all as more than 300,000 books remain unaccounted for across the country. Leading the way at number one was Bucks New University with 30,540, closely followed by Oxford University with 20,923 and the University of Kent with 19,613.
Penalties at the universities vary. Most students are fined 10p for every day a book is overdue, while at Edinburgh Napier University daily fines can be as much as £1 per day.

"The charge reflects the amount it would cost us to replace the item," the university revealed. "Sometimes a student who has genuinely lost an item will buy it through Amazon at a reduced price and give us the book - we are very happy to accept that.
For persistent offending, students can have their library account suspended or lose access to their university's IT system. Some may even be barred from graduating if they owe their university money. As little as a £5 debt at Exeter University will prevent graduation, as will £20 at Lancaster University or £25 at the University of Glasgow.

1 Match each number with the correct information based on what you read in the text.

1 £50 million
2 £5
3 10p
4 20,923
5 £25
6 30,540
7 £1
8 £1.8 million
9 £26,703
10 300,000

a) The total number of books missing from university libraries.
b) The highest rate charged per day for every day a book is not returned after the return date.
c) The total amount paid by university students to British universities for not returning books to the library on time.
d) The smallest total amount collected by a university library for late returns.
e) The limit on the money students can owe Glasgow University if they want to graduate.
f) The number of books permanently missing at Oxford University library.
g) The biggest number of books missing from one university.
h) The largest amount of money collected by a university library for late returns.
i) The limit on the money students can owe Exeter University if they want to graduate.
j) The most common daily library fine.

2 Find words or expressions in the text that mean:

Paragraph 1
a) an action or obligation not carried out before a certain date
b) show, make public

Paragraph 2
a) missing, not located

Paragraph 3
a) differ
b) every day

Paragraph 4
a) constant, repeated
b) honestly