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 the others have placed hold requests for.
- Items that have already been renewed twice.
- Express books. These current bestsellers are not eligible for renewal after the 3-week borrowing period.
- Express DVDs. These entertainment DVDs are not eligible for renewal after the 1-week borrowing period.
- 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
You may return library materials:
- to any branch of the Montgomery County Public Library system.
- to our 24-hour book drops. Since book drops can
damage materials, we ask that you bring materials
to inside return desks whenever possible.
- to any libraries with which MCPL has reciprocal
borrowing privileges, including libraries throughout the state of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia. You may also return materials belonging to these library systems to any MCPL library. It may take several weeks for items returned outside their owning system to be cleared from your account.
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 |
Paying Fines or Fees
Collection Agency
