Borrowing, charges and fines
Borrowing items
You may borrow up to 20 physical items from your local library. This may include:
- Books and audiobooks
Most items are loaned for three weeks.
Renewing items
Items on loan can be easily renewed (if they are not reserved by another borrower). You can renew items in the following ways.
You can also renew by email, phone or visiting a library. You can find details for your local library below.
Books |
|
---|---|
Audiobooks and language courses |
|
Library members who have difficulty reading print or handling books will not be charged for the loan or reservation of audiobooks, language courses or large print books.
Late return fines
To encourage library members to return items on time, the following late fines are charged:
Books loaned on an adult ticket |
|
---|---|
Books loaned on a child ticket |
|
Audiobooks loaned on an adult ticket |
|
Audiobooks loaned on a child ticket |
|
Charges for overdue items
If you have an email address, you can opt to receive a free notice email when items are due for return or renewal. However, this is a courtesy service and the prompt return or renewal of loans remains the responsibility of the library member, therefore, in the event of non-delivery of the advance email any overdue charges cannot be waived.
Reserving an item
You can reserve or place a hold on items online. You will need your library card number and PIN.
Reserving items within Cheshire Libraries
- Reserve items for adults (18 and over) within Cheshire: £1
A hold fee will be applied when you collect your item. The appropriate charge will also be applied if you do not collect your hold. Your hold can be cancelled by contacting your local library or by contacting our general enquiries.
- Reserve items for children from within Cheshire: free of charge
Reserving items outside of Cheshire Libraries
- Reserve items from a UK library outside Cheshire: £3.60
- Books from the British Library (and libraries which charge British Library rates): £17.15
- Please note: replacement costs for lost/damaged British Library books can be substantial
- British Library renewal: £5.70
Ordering journal articles from the British Library
- Journal article sent to personal email: £6.10
- Journal article printed and sent to Library Shared Services: £12.15
- Electronic scan to email from print: £10.65
Charges for using a library computer, printing documents and making copies
Personal computer use for library members |
|
---|---|
Personal computer use for visitors |
|
Printing black and white |
|
Printing colour |
|
Photocopies black and white |
|
Photocopies colour |
|
Charges for lost library tickets or lost or damaged items
Lost library tickets
For computerised libraries, including mobile libraries, replacement is charged as follows.
- Lost adult ticket: £1.60
- 80p children
Lost and damaged items
Charges for lost and damaged items are calculated in the following ways:
All items | Charges |
---|---|
|
|
The minimum charge for any lost or damaged item is £2.50. An administration charge of £2.50 will be deducted from any refund, if a lost item is found.