Borrowing Items, Holds and Overdue Fees

A new library card is free and there is no age restrictions for having one. Sign up for one at the Circulation Desk of any branch by presenting a piece of identification or official document that has your name and current address on it. Please notify us of any changes in your personal information, as it is your responsibility to keep your contact information current. For more information, please visit the Membership page, or contact Circulation Services at 905-623-7322 x2709.

Yes, you may use an image of your library card saved on to your smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device for the purpose of checking out materials.

Yes, the Library will accept a piece of ID in lieu of a library card for the purpose of checking out materials. If you have one of our newer Library cards, they include key  tags, which allow you to carry a small version of your library card on a key ring.
You can also keep a copies of your and your family's cards on our mobile app!

The cost-recovery fee to replace a damaged, missing, lost, or stolen card is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children (under age 12).

If your card has been lost or stolen, report it immediately by calling Circulation Services at 905-623-7322 x2709; you are responsible for the items borrowed on your card until it is reported missing.

Your Library card expires every five (5) years. To renew your card for another five years, please bring a piece of identification or official document that has your name and current address on it to any branch. To temporarily renew your card, please contact Circulation Services at 905-623-7322 x2709.

As of May 3, 2022, Clarington Public Library has eliminated fines for overdue materials! Whether they’re overdue by days, weeks, or even months, simply return your late materials to any library with no overdue fines!

You are responsible for your borrowed items. If an item is lost or damaged, you will be charged the replacement cost for the item and the $6.00 administration fee. Members may pay using cash, debit, credit card, or personal cheque.

A member is allowed up to 50 items on their card. This may be any combination of books, magazines, audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs, and video games.

The Library contacts members to notify them about their account status, program registration, and Library promotions. Notification options include phone, email, and SMS/text. Please see our Communications page for details and options.

To place a hold on an item in the Library catalogue:

1. Search for the item you are interested in, and click on the item's title or cover.
2. Click on the "Place Hold" link displayed below the book cover.
3. Type in your library card number and PIN, and click the "Place Hold" button.

Yes, you are able to pick up a family member's holds as long as you have the number of the library card that the hold was placed on.
The Library's mobile app allows you to link accounts to save and manage your family's cards!

You have five (5) days to pick up a hold once you are notified via a telephone call or email message. If you will be away, you can suspend your holds so no items will come in for you while you are gone. Your position in the hold queue will be maintained. To suspend your holds:

1. Log into your account through the catalogue or the My Account link.
2. Click the "Holds" link, and select the items you wish to suspend.
3. At the bottom of the screen, make sure "Suspend Selected" is selected, and choose the date you will return.
4. Click the "Suspend Selected" button.

Overdue fines will no longer be applied to your account and items without holds will be automatically renewed, but you are still responsible for returning everything you borrow. Please do your best to return your items on time, as someone else may be waiting for them.

Materials checked out will be renewed automatically 3 days before the due date, unless there is a hold on an item. Materials not eligible for automatic renewals include Book Club in a Bag Kits, Inter Library Loans (ILLOs), Mobile Hotspots, and any loanable technology that is available for in-branch use only. Members receiving email or SMS notifications will receive a notification that their items have either been successfully renewed or items unable to be renewed are due back in 3 days.

Depending on your communication preferences, you will receive a phone, text, or email courtesy notification prior to your due date.
Notifications are sent 3 days before the due date, then when the items are 2, 14, and 21 days overdue.

Use our mobile app to keep track of your account, or sign in online.

To encourage quick returns, reduce wait and hold times, and increase community access to materials, accounts with items 4 days overdue, or with 10 items 1 day overdue, will be blocked.

After 21 days overdue, members will be billed the value of all outstanding items, plus a $6.00 administrative fee per item.

Library members with blocked accounts will not be able to borrow any additional material, or borrow from the eCollection, including eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and streaming media.

Simply bring the overdue items back. There will be no late fines and full collection access will be restored.

All of them! We will no longer charge overdue fines on any item. Replacement costs will still apply for lost or damaged items.

You are responsible for your borrowed items. If an item is lost or damaged, you will be charged the replacement cost for the item and the $6.00 administration fee.