The new policy started at the beginning of the school year in order to reduce the number of overdue textbooks. For each day students fail to return borrowed textbooks, they are required to pay a dollar, according to librarian Linda Guitron.

The new late fee policy only applies to textbooks, not to library books. “Students are still allowed to keep a library book for up to three weeks,” Guitron said, but students must return textbooks after one day.

Students who do not return their textbooks receive a reminder during registry the following day. “We’ve already had to fine several students,” Guitron said. “All of them have had to pay a dollar fine except for one student who had to pay two dollars.”

Guitron feels that communication will help prevent fines. “There are signs (posted) everywhere in the library informing students about this new rule,” she said. “We're here to provide students with books, not to make money.”

Although overdue textbooks are not common, they affect students who need them. “It’s hard when a student asks for a specific book and we can’t give it to them because another student has yet to return it,” she said.

Students do have the right to keep a textbook overnight if they ask for permission. “We put a sticker in the textbook to show that the student asked,” Guitron said. “All the students have to do is ask and then they can keep the textbook overnight.”

Students often keep library textbooks in their lockers so they can leave their heavy textbooks at home, according to Guitron.

Most students are not upset about this new rule and feel that it was needed. “It’s unfair because when I’m in need of a book it’s not there and some other student has that textbook in their locker,” junior Carolyn Inglis said.

Junior Jasmine Conrad supports the new fine. “A dollar is a bit much but it gets the point across,” she said.