Fines

Fine Rates

Overdue fines are not charged for general loans. You are given 30 days to return materials before items are declared lost. Other fine rates are as follows:

Fine rates by material type
Material Type Rate Per Item Maximum Per Item
Hourly Loan Items $2.00 /hour $56.00
Short Loan Items $2.00 /day $56.00
Recalled Items $4.00 /day $56.00

Lost or Damaged Items

An item that is 30 days overdue is presumed lost and is billed for replacement. Western Libraries issues invoices for $125 as the default replacement fee for lost items.

Lost and/or damaged materials are billed to your account.

If an item borrowed through Interlibrary Loans is lost or damaged, please contact Interlibrary Loans staff immediately. For more information, see Interlibrary Loans Borrowing Policies.

Payment Options

  • Student, faculty, and staff: Pay online via your My Library Account
  • Visitors and Alumni: Pay online via credit card
  • Interac, Visa and MasterCard are accepted at Taylor Library, Weldon Library and King's University College Library
  • Cash is accepted at Music, Law, and Business. Personal cheques are accepted at all locations. Please make cheques payable to The University of Western Ontario. 

Fines Appeals

We encourage you to first discuss your situation with library staff.

If you would like to appeal your fines, complete the online form. A printable version of this form is also available.

Suspended Accounts

Your account is suspended if:

  • You have lost items billed for replacement
  • Overdue short term loans
  • Overdue recalled items
  • More than $20 in fines
  • Your record is sealed

To reinstate your borrowing privileges, you must return all relevant items and pay your fines.

Academic Sanctions (Sealed Records)

If you have outstanding library fines that exceed $100, your academic record will be sealed. The fee for unsealing records is $40 and is non-refundable.