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Montgomery County Maryland
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Check Out and Return

What you can check out

You may check-out up to 50 items on your card. You can check-out:

  • audio cassettes
  • books
  • recorded books
  • large print books
  • compact discs
  • magazines
  • videos
  • rental videos
  • Library Express materials
  • and more

If a book you want is not on the shelf, you can now place a hold on it yourself through our catalog. When it is returned, it will be saved for you to pick up. You can also call another branch; ask staff to check their shelves, and send their copy to your branch, if it is available. There is no charge for this service.

If our library system doesn't own an item you need, we can request it from another library system through the Interlibrary Loan Office.

Loan Period

Regular Loan 3 weeks
Large Print, Teacher Loan,
Vacation, or Extended Loan
6 weeks
Interlibrary Loan Books Time set by lending library

Renewing Materials

To extend the time you can keep materials, please bring them with you to any branch, call the telephone renewal and self service line, or renew online by accessing Your Account on the department's website. There is a limit of two renewals per item.

You will not be able to renew online or by phone if your account is blocked. Your account will be blocked if you owe $15 or more in outstanding bills (fines or lost charges for items already returned) and/or outstanding overdues (fines accumulated to date on items still checked out on your account that are past due). If your account is blocked, you will need to bring your library card (and the overdue items) to your local library and pay the outstanding bills in order to have the items renewed.

You cannot renew interlibrary loan books through Your Account or telephone renewal and self service line. The interlibrary loan cover sheet will tell you whether staff will be able to renew the item if you bring it to the library in person.

Some materials can't be renewed, including:

  • Items on Hold for others
  • Items borrowed on a Teacher/Child Care Provider Card
  • Kits (Storycare Kits, Peas in a Pod, etc.)
  • High demand items so designated by local libraries based on the demands in the service area of the particular library.

Returning Materials

Most materials may be returned at any branch. Book drops are available 24 hours a day at most branches for the return of materials. Since book drops can damage materials, we ask that you bring materials to inside return desks whenever possible.

Return Options

You may return library materials:

  • to the owning branch
  • to the MCPL branch that is most convenient for you
  • to any jurisdiction with which MCPL has reciprocal borrowing privileges.
  • to our 24-hour book drops.

Late Fines

Materials Daily Maximum
Adult Materials .35 15.00
Adult Mass Paperbacks .35 5.00
Children's Materials .10 5.00
Children's Paperbacks .10 2.50
Videos 1.00 15.00
Children's Videos .25 5.00

A customer’s account will be blocked for checkout, placement of holds, online renewals and telephone renewals when the overdues and/or fines equal or exceed $15 on the account.

Fees

For Lost/Damaged Items Full replacement cost
For Interlibrary Loan Books Any fees charged by the lending library including photocopy fees
For Nonresident Card $10.00 (non-refundable)
For Nonresident One Hour Per Day Internet Use Card $3.00 (non-refundable)
For Internet Printing $.15 per page
 

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Last edited: 8/28/2008