THE BOARD of Regents, in its 74th regular meeting on March 16 at the CHED Central Office in Pasig City, approved the proposal to increase fines of students who do not return books on time.  It, likewise, approved the charging of fees from non-MMSU library users.

According to the University Library Committee created under the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, collecting higher fine for overdue books is not a punitive measure or a money-making strategy of the Library System but a means to encourage borrowers to return books on time so that others may also use them.  If fines imposed are too low, however, the borrower is not compelled to return such library materials, the committee explained.

With the approval of the proposal, students, starting SY 2007-2008, will have to pay for the following fines:  For books borrowed overnight from the “Reservation” Section:  P10 for the first hour lapsed and P5 for each succeeding hour; for books borrowed for seven days from the “Non-reservation” Section:  P20 for the first day lapsed and P10 for each succeeding day.

Since the 80s, P1 has been collected for the first hour lapsed and P0.50 for each succeeding hour for books borrowed from both the “Reservation” Section. The same rates have been imposed on students borrowing from the “Non-reservation” Section.

The Central Student Council was consulted on the proposal for the said increase in fines and President Bryan D. Corpuz supported it.

Meanwhile, non-MMSU library users will already have to pay P50 per day.  This is in line with the university’s resource-generation program.  Collected amounts would augment budget for the maintenance of the library and its facilities.