Returning Books to the Library

We spent a lot of money buying a self-issuing station, one of these. They're the bees knees, especially since you can configure them to return books too. We recently configured the station to accept book returns and some of you have started returning book there and placing returned books on the book trolley next to the station. Many many thanks. We think you're awesome. However, and let's face there has to be an "however", or else I wouldn't be typing this, a very small number of you are placing books on the book return trolley, the trolley with the signage saying "Place books returned on self-issue station here", that you have borrowed, but haven't returned. I'll say that again, a very very small number of students are borrowing books and returning them by placing them on the book return trolley and walking away. This does not return books. This drives staff mad. This also messes up student accounts, because books that have been brought back to the library, are left on student accounts, with fines accumulating. Fines and overdue books lead to loan stops on student accounts. Staff then have to go to find the books that were left there (usually when there's a big queue at the issue desk). It's a mess. At the moment we waive any fines that accrue, but we have a problem: we've just been told that the home for insane librarians is full, so do we get rid of the book return facility on the self-issue station, or leave things as they are (and drive insane the rest of our staff)? We might have to start changing fines for books left on the trolley that haven't been returned. Any thoughts? Anyone?... Anyone?... Bueller?* We probably will go with the fine option unless popular opinion requests otherwise.


* Obscure 80's cultural reference