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Borrowing Materials

You can borrow up to 50 items at any given time with your Berkeley Public Libary card. Our collection contains over 1/2 million items, and if we don't have it here, we can most likely get it for you through Link+ or Interlibrary Loan.

Link+

Link+ is a cooperative project among dozens of academic and public libraries. It allows library cardholders to request books from these other libraries when the title they want is not available at the Berkeley Public Library. Typically Link+ items arrive at the Library 2-4 days after you request them. We will hold items for you for 10 days. Items go out for 3 weeks, and if there are no other holds, can be renewed once for 14 more days. Be aware the fine for overdue Link+ materials is $1.00/day. The fee for lost or damaged Link+ items is $115.00. To learn how Link+ works, you can view this brief tutorial (requires Macromedia Flash), or read more here. Link+ is FREE.

Interlibrary Loan

Use this service to borrow items that the Berkeley Public Library does not own. A non-refundable $2 fee allows us to search libraries throughout North America. Requests usually take 6-8 weeks to fill. If the lending institution charges us a fee, we will pass it on to you. In most cases, Link+ will be a faster and cheaper option. Use our online ILL request form.

Loan Periods

Fines and Payments

• Fines for seniors are 10¢ each day - except for DVDs and videos. Patrons 60 years of age and above are considered seniors.
• Your account is blocked when your fines exceed $10.
• Your account may be referred to a collection agency if your fees exceed $50.
• Fines can be paid at any Berkeley Public Library location, we accept cash, checks, Mastercard and Visa. Staff will ask you for photo ID when you pay by check or credit card. Your fines can also be paid online using your Mastercard or Visa.
• Financial transactions via the telephone are not available.

Returning Items

• All library materials, except tools and slides, may be returned to any Berkeley Public Library.
• All sites, except the Tool Library, have outside book drops open 24/7. Tool Library items must be returned to the Tool Library during Tool Library open hours.
• We send you a courtesy reminder 7 days before your item is due.
• Return overdue items even if you are not paying the fine immediately.
• Fines stop accumulating when you return the overdue item.
• We notify you when your item is 2 weeks overdue.
• The Library sends a replacement bill when your item is 5 weeks overdue.

Lost, Stolen And Damaged Items

The Library charges a replacement fee for lost and stolen items. With some exceptions, this fee includes the price of the item and a non-refundable $10 processing fee. Your account will be blocked when you have not returned an item by the time a bill is sent for it. If the items are still not returned within 8 weeks after the due date, you may be referred to a collection agency. If so, you will be charged $20 in addition to the bill and overdue fees.

Notifying You About Overdues

Email - If you supply an email address when you apply for your library card, the Library communicates with you only through email. Keep your email address current. Telephone - If you did not provide an email address, the automated telephone system calls you. The message states only that materials are overdue. It does not announce your name or any information about your materials. U.S. Mail - If you have not supplied an email address or a telephone number, the Library mails you a printed notice.