Borrow items from a library

What you need to do

Self-checkout

• Self-service kiosks installed at our library branches help make borrowing faster and easier while improving services for our members.
• All library items have electronic tags so checking out is easy.
• Our employees can help with the self-service kiosks.

Returns

Find out about changes to returns while our branches are temporarily closed.

• Borrowed items can be returned to any library branch during opening hours or in the after-hours return chute.
• Toys and makerspace kits are to be returned to an employee at the original branch during opening hours.
• The new return chutes and shelves register returns immediately, so you can keep on borrowing straight away.

Online catalogue

• Search our online catalogue to find the title you want to borrow.
• Log in using your member barcode number or alias and your password. If you've forgotten your details, use member recovery or visit a branch.

Our books and ebooks, magazines, audio and eaudiobooks, music CDs, DVDS, language and makerspace kits are all searchable in the online catalogue.

You can also suggest titles you want the library to purchase and review items you have borrowed.

Loan renewals

• Each item can only be renewed twice. If another library member has reserved it, you won't be able to renew your loan.
• To make the renewal process easier we've introduced automatic renewals. This means if you have an email address in your membership account, your loans will automatically renew on the day the item is due.
• Automatic renewal will not occur if the item has been reserved by another borrower, or if it has already reached the maximum 2 renewals. You'll receive an email confirming if the loan has been renewed or not.

If you don't have an email address, you can renew your loan online, over the phone or at any branch.

Reserving items

You can reserve up to 30 items at a time. To reserve an item follow the steps below:

1. In the online catalogue, enter the title, author or keyword into the search box and click the magnifying glass icon.
2. In the search results, click the item’s title for more details.
3. The number of copies of the item available and the number of reserves is displayed. For example it might say ‘0 of 3 items available. 5 reserves’.
4. To reserve the item, click the ‘Reserve’ tab or the ‘Thumbs up’ icon.
5. If you’re not already logged in, a pop-up box to log in will appear. Enter your membership card barcode or alias and password. Then select ‘Login’.
6. Next to ‘Collect at’ select the branch you want to collect the item from.
7. Click the reserve ‘Thumbs up’ icon.
8. A message will appear to confirm that your reservation has been placed and your position in the reservation queue. Your position in the queue depends on how many other members have also reserved the item.
9. You will receive a notification by email or SMS when the item is ready for you to collect.
10. To cancel a reservation, log in to your account and click on ‘Reserves’ from your account summary. Tick the box next to the title and then click ‘Delete’.

How to reactivate a suspended reserve item

Due to library closures during Covid-19, all member reservations made prior to 1 June 2020 have been suspended. If you’d still like to borrow these items, you’ll need to reactivate them in your online account using the steps below:

1. In the online catalogue click on ‘Login/Renew’. Enter your membership card barcode or alias and password. Then select ‘Login’.
2. Your membership summary will be displayed. Click ‘Reserves’.
3. In your list of reserved items, suspended items will show a ‘Locked’ icon. Tick the box next to the suspended item you want to reactive and click ‘Resume’.
4. A pop-up message will confirm that the item is now an active reservation and your position in the reservation queue will be displayed. Your position in the queue depends on how many other members have also reserved the item.
5. Under ‘Select new pick up location’ change the location to either Customs House Library or Green Square Library if this is not already displayed and click save. A message will confirm that the location has been updated.
6. You will receive a notification by email or SMS when the item is ready for you to collect.
7. If you no longer wish to borrow any of your reserved items, tick the box next to the title and then click ‘Delete’.

Other reserve options

You can also email [email protected] to make a reservation, call us on 02 9265 9333, or visit one of our branches.

SMS and email alerts

To register to receive email or SMS alerts when your items are ready to be collected, please send a message with your details to [email protected].

Other information

Borrowing limits

The following borrowing limits apply to library members for each category:

• books (30 a card)
• magazines (30 a card)
• CDs (30 a card)
• audiobooks (30 a card)
• DVDs (30 a card)
• language kits (30 a card)
• ebooks (5 a card)
• eaudiobooks (5 a card)
• ecomics (unlimited)
• emagazines (unlimited)
• enewspapers (unlimited)
• emusic (download limit 3 songs a week and 5 hours streaming a day)
• emovies on Beamafilm (unlimited)
• emovies on Kanopy (5 plays a month)
• video game consoles (1 a card)
• ukuleles (1 a card)
• musical instruments at Green Square Library (with music room hire only)
• toys (10 a card)
• reservations (20 items at a time)
• inter-library loans (5 items at a time)

Borrowing limits for temporary members

If you’re a temporary library member – an interstate or international visitor, or you have homeless or refugee status – your borrowing limit is 5 items over a 3-week period, with up to 2 renewals.

Reservations and inter-library loans are not available in this membership category.

Overdue loans

We are waiving fines for overdue loans for until 30 June 2021. As long as overdue items are returned, you won't be fined, no matter how overdue they are. If you have an overdue item or outstanding fee, your library membership will be temporarily suspended.

Lost or damaged items

Fees remain for lost or damaged items. Members can pay their fees at any library branch.