private void checkForFine(String bookItemBarcode)
    {
        BookLending bookLending = BookLending.fetchLendingDetails(bookItemBarcode);
        Date        dueDate     = bookLending.getDueDate();
        Date        today       = new Date();

        // check if the book has been returned within the due date
        if (today.compareTo(dueDate) > 0)
        {
            long diff     = todayDate.getTime() - dueDate.getTime();
            long diffDays = diff / (24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
            Fine.collectFine(memberId, diffDays);
        }
    }