North Yorkshire Council has increased the fine for an overdue book at its libraries from 30p to 35p per day.
The council said it was the first increase in almost a decade and was being made “in the light of increased pressures on finances.”
The changes will only apply to adult library members and not children.
The price to print an A4 piece of black and white paper at the library has also increased from 10p to 20p. It remains 50p to print a page of colour.
In an email sent to members yesterday, the council said income from fines and other charges goes into the library budget and contributes to ongoing service delivery costs.
The maximum fine for one book is £8.
The email added:
“Charges incurred at our community libraries goes directly back to the groups managing those libraries and makes up a valuable part of the income needed to meet their running costs.
"To mitigate the increase and to help customers keep track of items on loan we will be introducing reminders about when books are due back.”
For details of all library charges visit the council’s website.
Last year, Harrogate Library was the most popular in the county with 177,629 visits.
Visitor numbers at other libraries in the former Harrogate district area were Knaresborough with 110,191, Ripon with 73,428 and Starbeck with 18,676.
In 2015, the running of 31 libraries in the county was handed to volunteers in the face of mounting financial pressures brought on by austerity.
In this model, the council’s library service continues to provide the infrastructure including books and public IT, as well as some paid staff support to ensure consistency across the county.
The community libraries account for just under 40% of active library users and deliver on average 50% of the total business for book lending and computer access.
Viral pub crawler returns to Knaresborough pubs
Coral Windows begins new sponsorship with Harrogate Junior football club
Tickets go on sale for Love to Be Festival 2026 in Harrogate
Allotment in Harrogate sell pumpkins to raise money for community shed
Mayor of North Yorkshire visits Harrogate company to reduce digital inequality
New mental health hub opens in Harrogate
Stump Cross Cavern shortlisted for People's Choice Award
Your Christmas to provide seasonal joy on DAB across North Yorkshire
Communities asked to help support new opportunities in Harrogate
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust signs Smokefree Pledge
Henshaws Festive Showcase to return to Ripon for a second year
Dame Judi Dench calls Harrogate Spring Water plans '‘environmental vandalism’
Theme park in Ripon listed for sale at £3 Million
Ripon Community Bonfire to return next week
Harrogate festival shortlisted for 'Best Festival Newcomer' award
Do Not Drink Warning issued for parts of Harrogate after water quality tests
Police identify man who died after collision in Beckwithshaw
Local MP calls for children to be allowed to attend Great Yorkshire Show
Specsavers to support Halloween events in Ripon
Ripon Rotary President, 83, soars down 60mph zipline for Yorkshire Air Ambulance
