Fees

At their meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, the Library Board of Trustees approved a policy to eliminate overdue fines, effective March 1, 2020. The policy waives all unpaid overdue fines and collection agency fees charged prior to implementation, and eliminates fines for all late returns moving forward.

Items that are lost, returned with damaged or missing parts, or otherwise did not return in the same condition as when they were checked out are billed accordingly. Learn more.

You may pay any balance owed in person using cash, personal check, or debit/credit card. Debit/credit card payments may be made online at My Account > Fees. Payments are not accepted at the drive-up window.

Alternately, you can enroll in our Care Fee Option Program to remove fees just by checking out material!

 

Checking Out

To borrow physical items, bring them to any designated Customer Assistance Desk or self-checkout station with a valid Library Card in good standing. Cardholders age 18 or over may present either a Library Card or an acceptable photo ID at the time of checkout. Patrons age 17 or under who do not have their Library Card or a photo ID may supply other identifying information.

List of Acceptable Photo IDs*
  • Driver's License
  • State ID
  • Learner's Permit
  • Consular ID
  • Military ID
  • Passport
  • Student ID

*Patrons age 17 or under who do not have a photo ID may supply other identifying information to verify identity.

To check out physical items to another person's account
  • Have that person's Library card in hand –or–
  • Know their My Account username and password (for self-check) –or–
  • Verify with an acceptable photo ID that you have their permission to pick up items for them.  Cardholders grant permission for others to pick up their items by completing a form, available on your 'My Account' page. Holds for patrons under the age of 18 may be picked up by a parent or legal guardian.

 

Borrowing Periods and Limits

Material Type Loan Period Number of Items at a Time
Books 21 days No limit*
Express Books 7 days 1
Audiobooks, Playaways 21 days No limit*
Blu-rays 7 days 2
DVDs 7 days 14
Express DVDs 3 days 1
Video Games 21 days 2
Music CDs 21 days 21
Magazines 7 days No limit*
Zines 21 days No limit*
 

*The maximum total number of items, of any type, allowed on a Library account at any one time is 100. Be sure to consult your receipt or account for due dates.

Additional Borrowing Limits
Material Type Loan Period Number of Items at a Time
VITAL Materials 42 days No limit*
iPads 21 days 1
Mobile Hotspots 14 days 1
Mobile Video Production Kits 21 days 1
Launchpads 14 days 2
Calculators 7 days No limit*
Flash Drives 14 days 1
External Hard Drives 14 days 1
Energy Monitors 14 days 20
Binoculars 14 days 1
Pickleball Game Set 14 days 1
Role-Playing Game Kits 21 days 1
Book Club Kits 42 days 1
Outreach Kits 21 days 1
Storytime Kits 21 days 1
Toys 21 days No limit*
Baking Kits 21 days 1
Ukuleles 14 days 1

More information on checkout limits and borrowing periods for eBooks, streaming movies, eMagazines, etc. is available on the eLibrary borrowing page.

 

Renewing Items

Unless someone else requests an item that you've borrowed, most items may be renewed twice. Items eligible for renewal will automatically renew shortly before their due date. To receive email or text notifications of automatic renewals, you must include an email address or phone number in your settings at My Account > Contact Information. Normal borrowing and return policies apply to items not eligible for renewal.

Renewing Items Manually
  • Log in to My Account
  • Choose "My Items Out / My Renewals" in the block on the left-hand side of the My Account page
  • To renew all items on your account, choose "Renew All Items" below the list of your current checkouts
  • To renew selected items, check the boxes next to their titles in your list of current checkouts, then choose "Renew Selected Items"

 

Returning Items

Regardless of where our items are borrowed, they may be returned to any of the following locations. Outdoor return slots are open 24 hours a day. Although most items are suitable for these slots, certain items must be returned directly to a service desk; please note any special return instructions on items you borrow.

  • Downtown Library
  • Ellettsville Branch
  • Bookmobile
  • Outreach Van
See the our complete Checkout Policy.