Library Cards FAQs

  • Get a Library Card

    Sign up for a Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library card online or in person at any of our 41 neighborhood branches.

    Customers with disabilities who cannot visit the Library can sign up for a card by mail. Please contact the Library at 513-369-6900 for additional information about signing up by mail.

    Parents signing up for a child must be accompanied by the child when the signup is processed, except in the case of applicants under age 18 who are applying for a Child-only or Teen-only library card.

    Library cards are free to anyone who meets any of the following criteria:

    • Are a resident of the State of Ohio or a property owner in Hamilton County
    • You are a cardholder from a member library of the Ohio regional library system., opens a new window
    • Are a staff member of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library 
    • You are a temporary/transitional resident of Hamilton County
    • Are a resident of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky, and have a valid card from their local library systems, a picture ID, and an address verification

    If you do not meet any of the criteria outlined above, a library card can be purchased at the price established by our Table of Fines & Fees.

    Only one kind of card is available—the standard card; however, that card will have one of the following profiles:

    Unlimited Access to all circulating materials.
    Book club Access to all circulating materials (except DVDs) for customers using library materials to support a book club and whose personal-use cards do not exceed established fine limits.
    Educator Access to all circulating materials (except DVDs) for customers who live or work in the state of Ohio and use Library materials in an educational setting, and whose personal-use cards do not exceed established fine limits.
    Outpatron Access to all circulating materials for customers of the Library’s Outreach Services Department.
    Non-resident unlimited Access to all circulating materials for customers who purchase a library card
    Limited Juvenile Access limited to Juvenile catalogued material for customers under the age of 18, at the request of a parent or legal guardian.
    Limited no video Access limited to any Juvenile, Teen, and Adult catalogued material, except DVDs, for customers under the age of 18 at the request of a parent or legal guardian.
    Visitor Access limited to print materials for temporary/transitional customers.
    Visitor juvenile limited Access limited to Juvenile catalogued material for temporary/transitional customers under the age of 18, at the request of a parent or legal guardian.
    Downloadable only Access to the Library’s downloadable collection, internet and all databases, ages 18 and older.
    Adult-only Access to seven print or audiobook items at a time, customers 18 and older.
    Child-only Access to seven Juvenile print or audiobook items at a time to children ages 12 and under.
    Teen-only Access to seven Juvenile or Teen print or audiobook items at a time to teens between ages 13-17.

    Applicants over the age of 18 must provide either a driver's license or state ID card with a current address, a birthdate, and a signature. If your photo ID does not have your current address, then one of the following that shows your current address is be required:

    • Pre-printed personal check with your name and address.
    • Current (less than a month old) pre-printed rent receipt or mortgage statement.
    • Current (less than a month old) utility bill with name and address (utility bills can include phone, gas, water, electric, or cable bills).
    • Current (less than a month old) paycheck stub with name and address.
    • Current (less than a month old) bank statement with name and address.
    • Vehicle registration, post office verification of new address, government issued IDs (military, parole, etc.), court ordered papers.

    For applicants under 18, identity and home address verification is required from the parent or legal guardian signing the application. Applicants under 18 applying for a Child-only or Teen-only card need to provide name, address, and date of birth.

    Applicants for an Internet-only card must verify identity with documentation that includes full name. Verbal verification of address and date of birth is acceptable if not included on the documentation.

    Those associated with a member of an Ohio regional library system must present a library card from the member library.

    Customers applying for a card with an Educator profile are asked to verify their employment with one of the following: employee/organization ID, paycheck stub, letter signed by school/organization head on school/organization letterhead, or homeschooling certificate.

    Hamilton County property owner(s) who do not reside in the county are asked to provide a property deed, mortgage paperwork, or other appropriate documentation.

    Applicants who provide the appropriate identification are able to use their library card immediately.

    If you use our online application form, you are issued a temporary library card number, which expires in three weeks. You can use this temporary card number to access downloadable eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, and music, as well as streaming movies and TV shows, our online databases, and place holds on library materials.

    To receive a permanent card and check out physical library materials, you must activate your card by visiting one of our 41 locations to verify your identity.

    Unlimited Valid for 5 years
    Book club Expires Sep. 15
    Educator Expires Sep. 15
    Outpatron Valid for one year
    Non-resident unlimited Valid for one year
    Limited juvenile Valid for five years
    Limited no video Valid for five years
    Non-resident limited juvenile Valid for one year
    Non-resident limited no video Valid for one year
    Visitor Valid for three weeks (may be renewed for additional three week periods indefinitely); identity and home address must be verified for renewal
    Visitor juvenile limited Valid for three weeks (may be renewed for additional three week periods indefinitely
    Downloadable only Valid for five years
    Military Valid for five years
    Adult-only Valid for five years
    Child-only Valid for five years (or until 13th birthday, if sooner)
    Teen-only Valid for five years (or until 18th birthday, if sooner)
    Internet-only Valid for five years
    Complimentary Valid for 3-4 weeks

    Cards can be renewed in person or by phone, with the exception of Educator cards. Complimentary cards cannot be renewed.

  • Using Your Library Card

    Physical material (books, CDs, magazines, etc.):

    • Unlimited checkouts
    • Lucky Day materials: Up to 3 at a time (includes both books and/or movies)

    New release feature film DVDs and Blu-rays:

    • Up to 10 items at a time

    Digital material:

    • Overdrive: Up to 20 items at a time
    • Hoopla: Up to 10 downloads per month
    • Freading: Up to 3 items per week
    • RBdigital audiobooks: Up to 20 items at a time
    • RBdigital magazines: Unlimited checkouts
    • Flipster: Unlimited checkouts
    • Freegal: Download up to 7 songs or videos per week; unlimited streaming
    • Kanopy: Up to 12 plays per month

    Equipment

    • Hotspots: 1 at a time
    • Laptops: 1 at a time and must be used inside a library location

    Educator cards are limited to 200 items at any one time. DVDs may not be checked out on Educator cards. 

    Book club cards are limited to 60 items at any one time. DVDs may not be checked out on Book club cards.

    Neither the Educator card nor the Book club card may be used to check out items through SearchOhio and OhioLINK.

    Limits may also be set for special demand materials or formats..

    The Library offers a variety of ways to find out when (oops!) your items are overdue:

    Email

    To have your courtesy, hold and overdue notices delivered directly to your inbox, contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, visit CincinnatiLibrary.org/ask, or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    To ensure that your spam-filtering software does not block the email notices, please configure your spam filter to receive messages from the following email address: patronnotices@chpl.org. Our automated notification system starts sending out emails at 6 a.m. every day.

    If you choose to subscribe to this service, your email address only is used for Library correspondence. It is not sold or given to third parties. We do not subsequently change the way in which we use your personal information.

    Text Message

    To have your courtesy, hold and overdue notices delivered to your cell phone or mobile device via text message, use our online form, contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    You need your cell phone number and cell carrier's domain name. Our automated notification system starts sending out text messages at 6 a.m. every day.

    Although the Library does not charge for text message alerts, you may see a charge for incoming text messages at a rate determined by your cell phone carrier. In many cases, there is a character limit on text messages (typically 140-160 characters, including spaces). Each carrier handles this situation differently. Some customers with character limits won’t see the full text in the notice. Other providers break the notice up into separate text messages.

    Telephone

    To have your hold and overdue notices delivered directly to your answering machine or voicemail, use our online form, contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    Our automated telephone notification system places calls between 10 a.m.-9 p.m. every day. If you are not home during those times, you must have an answering machine or voicemail.

    Please note: Courtesy notices are only delivered via email or text.

    The Library offers a variety of ways to find out when the materials you put on hold are available:

    Email

    To have your courtesy, hold and overdue notices delivered directly to your inbox, use our online form, contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    To ensure that your spam-filtering software does not block the email notices, please configure your spam filter to receive messages from the following email address: patronnotices@chpl.org. Our automated notification system starts sending out emails at 6 a.m. every day.

    If you choose to subscribe to this service, your email address is only be used for Library correspondence. It is not sold or given to third parties. We do not subsequently change the way in which we use your personal information.

    Text Message

    To have your courtesy, hold and overdue notices delivered to your cell phone or mobile device via text message, use our online form, contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    You need your cell phone number and cell carrier's domain name. Our automated notification system starts sending out text messages at 6 a.m. every day.

    Although the Library does not charge for text message alerts, you may see a charge for incoming text messages at a rate determined by your cell phone carrier. In many cases, there is a character limit on text messages (typically 140-160 characters, including spaces). Each carrier handles this situation differently. Some customers with character limits won’t see the full text in the notice. Other providers break the notice up into separate text messages.

    Telephone

    You may request to receive hold and overdue notices by phone at the time of registration, or update your Contact Preference at any time by accessing your account online. Calls will be made from 513-LIBRARY (or 513-542-7279) between 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. daily.  We recommend adding this number to your contacts to limit the potential for missed calls or action by call blockers.

    Please note: Courtesy notices are only delivered via email or text.

    When all available copies of a title are checked out, or if a title is shelved at a branch that isn't in your neighborhood, you can place a hold on that particular item. Holds can be placed by phone, in person, or online. A valid library card is needed to place holds.

    If you have over $10 in fees and would like to place a hold, please contact the Library by phone at 513-369-6900 or ask staff at your neighborhood branch to assist you. Holds may not be placed on reference material. Adult-only, Child-only, and Teen-only cardholders can place seven items on hold at one time. You are contacted by email, text message, or phone when your hold is available.

    Your Library PIN (Personal Identification Number) is needed to:

    • Work with your account
    • Place a hold on an item in our catalog
    • Use selected research databases from locations outside the Library
    • Access the internet from library computers

    Until you change it, your PIN is the last 4 digits of the phone number you provided when you applied for your card. PINs are four to 10 characters long, and can be changed to any combination of letters and numbers. If you do not know or cannot remember your PIN, call the Library at 513-369-6900 or contact your local branch.

    If you need to retrieve your library card number, please call 513-369-6900 or chat, opens a new window with a library staff member. We need to verify your name, date of birth, and address on the card to provide account information.

    As an added convenience for our customers, holds lockers are available at some CHPL locations. These lockers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    To see available locations and learn how to use the lockers, please visit our holds lockers page.

    Stop by your local branch or call 513-369-6900 and our staff is happy to get you a replacement library card.

    Physical material (books, CDs, magazines, etc.):

    • 21 days

    New release feature film DVDs:

    • 4 days

    All other DVDs:

    • 7 days

    Digital material:

    • Overdrive: 7, 14, or 21 days
    • Hoopla eAudiobooks: 21 days
    • Freading: 14 days
    • RBdigital eAudiobooks: 21 days
    • RBdigital magazines: no due dates
    • Flipster: varies by publication 
    • Freegal: no due dates
    • Hoopla music: 7 days
    • Hoopla movies: 3 days
    • Overdrive movies: 3, 5, or 7 days
    • Kanopy: 72 hours

    Due dates are on your receipt and can be checked in the catalog or in the mobile app. Items can be renewed by phone, in person, or online.

    Titles may not be renewable if they are on hold for another customer.*

    Loan periods for special items may vary. Please refer to our Circulation Policy for additional information.

    *All library items are granted a courtesy extension of an additional checkout period, regardless of whether or not another customer has a hold on the item. Once the courtesy extension has taken place, eligible items are then automatically renewed up to the maximum number of renewals (eight for most items).

    Please note: there are a few instances when items are not automatically renewed, including the following:

    • There are holds on the item (after the initial courtesy extension)
    • There are over $10 in fees on the library account
    • The item has reached the maximum number of renewals
    • The item is an eBook, eAudiobook, or eVideo
    • The library card has expired
    • The library account has been turned over to the materials collection service

    SearchOhio items can be renewed as long as there are no holds on the item. If there are no holds, SearchOhio print and media can be renewed up to three times. If there are no holds, OhioLINK print titles can be renewed up to six times and media up to three times. 

    Library materials can be returned to the Downtown Main Library or any of our neighborhood branches. The Downtown Main Library, Anderson, Covedale, Delhi Township, Groesbeck, Harrison, Reading, and Symmes Township branches have drive-through windows that are open during regular service hours. Book drops for returning material after hours are available at the Downtown Main Library and all of our branches.

    Applicants who provide the appropriate identification are able to use their library card immediately.

    If you use our online application form, you are issued a temporary library card number, which expires in three weeks. You can use this temporary card number to access downloadable eBooks, eAudiobooks, magazines, and music, as well as streaming movies and TV shows, our online databases, and place holds on library materials.

    To receive a permanent card and check out physical library materials, you must activate your card by visiting one of our 41 locations to verify your identity.

    Unlimited Valid for 5 years
    Book club Expires Sep. 15
    Educator Expires Sep. 15
    Outpatron Valid for one year
    Non-resident unlimited Valid for one year
    Limited juvenile Valid for five years
    Limited no video Valid for five years
    Non-resident limited juvenile Valid for one year
    Non-resident limited no video Valid for one year
    Visitor Valid for three weeks (may be renewed for additional three week periods indefinitely); identity and home address must be verified for renewal
    Visitor juvenile limited Valid for three weeks (may be renewed for additional three week periods indefinitely
    Downloadable only Valid for five years
    Military Valid for five years
    Adult-only Valid for five years
    Child-only Valid for five years (or until 13th birthday, if sooner)
    Teen-only Valid for five years (or until 18th birthday, if sooner)
    Internet-only Valid for five years
    Complimentary Valid for 3-4 weeks

    Cards can be renewed in person or by phone, with the exception of Educator cards. Complimentary cards cannot be renewed.

    To create an account, the Library requires identifying information, including your name, address, and date of birth, as well as a valid email address and/or telephone number. This is so the Library can send you information related to your account activity, such as hold and overdue notices. You may opt-in to receiving additional communications from the Library, including promotional messaging on programs and events.

    Please keep your email address and telephone number up to date on your account. You may change them and your contact preference by navigating to My Settings – Account Information when logged in to your account online. For assistance modifying your notice preference or contact information, call 513-369-6900 or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    The Library will not sell or share your information with any third party, or use it for beyond what is required for your access to the services provided.

  • Fines & Fees

    During the Aug. 10, 2021 meeting of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library Board of Trustees, board members agreed to end the practice of issuing fines for overdue items. This change goes into effect Sept. 26, 2021.

    In lieu of late fees, the Library locks a customer’s account if any item is 12 days overdue, meaning no additional print items can be checked out until either the overdue item is returned or the customer has paid the replacement fee for it. Customer accounts will also be blocked from renewing or placing holds until the overdue item is resolved.

    Although the Library will no longer charge late fees when an item is overdue, materials still have to be returned. As of Sept. 26, 2021, at 30 days overdue, customers receive a bill for items that have not been returned and have been classified as “lost.” Previously, customers did not receive a bill until an item was overdue for 45 days. Customers can still return materials that have been billed, and the replacement fee will be removed. In addition:

    • If fees on a customer's card exceed $10, borrowing privileges are suspended until the amount is reduced below the $10 limit. Holds and renewals cannot be made while suspended. For further questions customers should contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, or ask the staff at their neighborhood branch for assistance.
    • Once unpaid replacement fees reach $50 and remain at $50 or above for 30 days or longer, customers are referred to a materials collection agency. A $10 processing fee also is added to the account. Customers can return materials that have been billed, even if the account is in collection, and the replacement fee will be removed.
    • The changes that go into effect Sept. 26, 2021 do not apply to library cards that have never had late fees associated with them, such as Child-Only, Teen-Only, Adult-Only, Educator and Book Club cards.

    Please refer to our Circulation Policy for additional information about fees. You may also be charged repair or replacement costs if you lose or damage library material. Please refer to our Table of Fines & Fees for additional information.

    The Library distributes overdue notices by email, text message, or phone as a courtesy. Failure to receive an overdue notice does not exempt a library cardholder from responsibility for items that have not been returned.

    The Library offers a variety of ways to find out when (oops!) your items are overdue:

    Email

    To have your courtesy, hold and overdue notices delivered directly to your inbox, contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, visit CincinnatiLibrary.org/ask, or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    To ensure that your spam-filtering software does not block the email notices, please configure your spam filter to receive messages from the following email address: patronnotices@chpl.org. Our automated notification system starts sending out emails at 6 a.m. every day.

    If you choose to subscribe to this service, your email address only is used for Library correspondence. It is not sold or given to third parties. We do not subsequently change the way in which we use your personal information.

    Text Message

    To have your courtesy, hold and overdue notices delivered to your cell phone or mobile device via text message, use our online form, contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    You need your cell phone number and cell carrier's domain name. Our automated notification system starts sending out text messages at 6 a.m. every day.

    Although the Library does not charge for text message alerts, you may see a charge for incoming text messages at a rate determined by your cell phone carrier. In many cases, there is a character limit on text messages (typically 140-160 characters, including spaces). Each carrier handles this situation differently. Some customers with character limits won’t see the full text in the notice. Other providers break the notice up into separate text messages.

    Telephone

    To have your hold and overdue notices delivered directly to your answering machine or voicemail, use our online form, contact the Library by phone, 513-369-6900, or visit any of our neighborhood branches.

    Our automated telephone notification system places calls between 10 a.m.-9 p.m. every day. If you are not home during those times, you must have an answering machine or voicemail.

    Please note: Courtesy notices are only delivered via email or text.

  • Borrowing

    To locate your holds, log in to your account using the "Log In / My CHPL" link in the top right corner of the page.

    Once you are logged in, click on your name in the top right corner of the page. Then, in the dropdown bar under your name click "On Hold" under the "My Borrowing" category. This brings up your holds list.

    To place a hold, use our search to find a book or material you would like to check out. Then, click the green "Place a Hold" button.

    Learn how to borrow a book or other physical material from the Library during COVID-19.
     
    1. Log in to the Library's website, then search our catalog to find the book or other physical materials you would like to borrow.
     
    2. Click the green "Place a Hold" button next to the item.
     
    3. Select one of our open locations where you want to pick up your book.
     
    4. You'll receive an email when your book or material is available for pickup. Read about Library safety during COVID-19.
     
    5. Visit the branch you selected to pick up your holds at, and check them out.

    Physical material (books, CDs, magazines, etc.):

    • Unlimited checkouts
    • Lucky Day materials: Up to 3 at a time (includes both books and/or movies)

    New release feature film DVDs and Blu-rays:

    • Up to 10 items at a time

    Digital material:

    • Overdrive: Up to 20 items at a time
    • Hoopla: Up to 10 downloads per month
    • Freading: Up to 3 items per week
    • RBdigital audiobooks: Up to 20 items at a time
    • RBdigital magazines: Unlimited checkouts
    • Flipster: Unlimited checkouts
    • Freegal: Download up to 7 songs or videos per week; unlimited streaming
    • Kanopy: Up to 12 plays per month

    Equipment

    • Hotspots: 1 at a time
    • Laptops: 1 at a time and must be used inside a library location

    Educator cards are limited to 200 items at any one time. DVDs may not be checked out on Educator cards. 

    Book club cards are limited to 60 items at any one time. DVDs may not be checked out on Book club cards.

    Neither the Educator card nor the Book club card may be used to check out items through SearchOhio and OhioLINK.

    Limits may also be set for special demand materials or formats..

    As an added convenience for our customers, holds lockers are available at some CHPL locations. These lockers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    To see available locations and learn how to use the lockers, please visit our holds lockers page.

    Can't find something in our collection? Or maybe you're looking for an item but all our copies are checked out? Through SearchOhio and OhioLINK you can now borrow material from the collections of over 140 Ohio public and academic libraries. These services are free, fast, and easy to use.

    About SearchOhio and OhioLINK

    SearchOhio, opens a new window is a group of Ohio public libraries. OhioLINK, opens a new window is a group of Ohio's college and university libraries and the State Library of Ohio. The OhioLINK catalog has an academic focus.

    How it works

    SearchOhio and OhioLINK are both free and can be used with a valid library card in good standing. If we don't have the title you're looking for, click the SearchOhio and OhioLINK buttons in the catalog search results. If another library owns the title, select the "Request Item" button and follow the prompts. 

    What type of material can be borrowed

    You can request books, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs.

    Request process time

    Items are usually available within three to five business days. Items requested on weekends take five to seven days. You are notified via your preferred method (email, phone, or text message) when the item is ready to be picked up.

    Loan periods

    SearchOhio and OhioLINK print items can be borrowed for 21 days. SearchOhio and OhioLINK DVDs can be borrowed for seven days. SearchOhio audiobooks and CDs can be borrowed for 21 days. OhioLINK audiobooks and CDs can be borrowed for seven days.

    Renewing items

    Titles can be renewed as long as there aren't any holds on them. If there are no holds, SearchOhio print and media can be renewed up to three times. If there are no holds, OhioLINK print items can be renewed up to six times and media up to 3 times.

    Returning SearchOhio or OhioLINK items

    Materials can be returned to any of our branches or the Downtown Main Library. Our staff take care of returning the items to the owning library system.

    Overdue fines

    CHPL is now late fine-free. Read more in our FAQ answer.

    A replacement fee of $25 is billed for any SearchOhio item that isn't returned within 30 days of the due date. A replacement fee of $125 is billed for any OhioLINK item that isn't returned within 30 days of the due date.

    SearchOhio or OhioLINK requests won't be processed if:

    • You have over $10 in fines on your library card or you have a temporary library card
    • The title you are searching for is currently available at one of our branches
    • All copies in the SearchOhio or OhioLINK catalogs are checked out, or on hold for other customers

    SearchOhio and OhioLINK are not available to a small number of customers with particular card types.

    Questions or problems?

    Ask a Librarian in the Library's Virtual Information Center by phone, 513-369-6900, text, or email.

    Physical material (books, CDs, magazines, etc.):

    • 21 days

    New release feature film DVDs:

    • 4 days

    All other DVDs:

    • 7 days

    Digital material:

    • Overdrive: 7, 14, or 21 days
    • Hoopla eAudiobooks: 21 days
    • Freading: 14 days
    • RBdigital eAudiobooks: 21 days
    • RBdigital magazines: no due dates
    • Flipster: varies by publication 
    • Freegal: no due dates
    • Hoopla music: 7 days
    • Hoopla movies: 3 days
    • Overdrive movies: 3, 5, or 7 days
    • Kanopy: 72 hours

    Due dates are on your receipt and can be checked in the catalog or in the mobile app. Items can be renewed by phone, in person, or online.

    Titles may not be renewable if they are on hold for another customer.*

    Loan periods for special items may vary. Please refer to our Circulation Policy for additional information.

    *All library items are granted a courtesy extension of an additional checkout period, regardless of whether or not another customer has a hold on the item. Once the courtesy extension has taken place, eligible items are then automatically renewed up to the maximum number of renewals (eight for most items).

    Please note: there are a few instances when items are not automatically renewed, including the following:

    • There are holds on the item (after the initial courtesy extension)
    • There are over $10 in fees on the library account
    • The item has reached the maximum number of renewals
    • The item is an eBook, eAudiobook, or eVideo
    • The library card has expired
    • The library account has been turned over to the materials collection service

    SearchOhio items can be renewed as long as there are no holds on the item. If there are no holds, SearchOhio print and media can be renewed up to three times. If there are no holds, OhioLINK print titles can be renewed up to six times and media up to three times. 

    Holds may be canceled if the last copy of an item becomes unavailable or is deemed unfit for circulation, if no orders are attached to the requested item record, or if they have been frozen for a year or more. Holds may also be canceled if they were placed on item that is not borrowable by your card type.

    If a hold you have placed has been canceled, we recommend searching the catalog for a similar item or seeing if it’s available through our partner libraries in SearchOhio and OhioLink, opens a new window. You may also suggest a purchase, opens a new window.

  • Materials Recovery

    Materials Recovery is the process of retrieving overdue library materials. The Library uses the services of Unique Management Services to handle accounts with overdue fees of $50 or more.

    When an item is overdue 5 days, customers are notified by the Library either through telephone, text, or email, depending on which option was chosen by the customer. The second notice is sent out on day 12. Overdue items are marked as billed at day 30, a bill notice is sent, the item becomes billed, and a fee for the cost of the item is added to the customer’s account. If the account isn’t paid below $50 within 30 days, the account is turned over to Unique Management. A $10 processing fee is also added to the account.

    The cost of items that are 30 days overdue is billed to your account. If you have fees totaling $50 or more, you are notified with a final bill's notice on Thursday (phone) or Friday (email) that soon your account is being sent to collection. You have 30 days to return materials and/or pay your account down to under $50. If this payment has not happened in 30 days, then your account is turned over to Unique Management Services, opens a new window. 

    The cost of items that are 45 days overdue is billed to your account. If you have fees totaling $50 or more, you are notified with a final bill's notice on Thursday (phone) or Friday (email) that soon your account is being sent to collection. You have 30 days to return materials and/or pay your account down to under $50. If this payment has not happened in 30 days, then your account is turned over to Unique Management Services.

    • Day 5: First overdue notice.
    • Day 12: Second overdue notice and account is locked, meaning no additional physical materials may be borrowed until the overdue items are returned.
    • Day 30: Overdue items are marked as "Billed."
    • User owes $50 or more in bills: Final bills notice sent 30 days before the account is turned over to Unique Management.

    • Day 1: Customer is submitted to collection and first letter is sent.
    • Day 22-36: Initial call is made.
    • Day 42: Second letter is sent.
    • Day 65-79: Second phone call is made.
    • Day 90: Fourth letter is sent.
    • Day 120: Final letter is sent.
    • Day 140-154: Final phone call is made.

    No. The $10 processing fee assessed on accounts turned over to Unique defrays the costs of the service. No capital expenditure is required by the Library to use the material recovery service. Unique Management does not charge in advance.

    Yes. On average, there are nearly 200,000 books and other materials overdue at any time. The value of these items is over $3 million. In addition to the dollar value, this prevents others from enjoying and using the materials.

    The average rate of return is $4 for every dollar invested. However, many libraries realize much more than that.

    As a good steward of public funds, we have a responsibility to protect our collection. Based on the items that Unique recovers for libraries, items long overdue tend to be the newer, most popular items. Returning them to the shelves better meets the needs of the community, while at the same time helping us substantially reduce collection replacement costs.

    You will not be charged a late fine, but borrowing privileges will be suspended once any item on your account is 12 days or more overdue. Here are some steps you can take to avoid replacement charges:

    1. Make sure you put your receipt in a prominent place at home after you check out items and mark the date in your planner or on your calendar.
    2. Sign up for email or text notification. That way, you receive a courtesy notice emailed or texted to your account two or three days in advance of your item's due date. Or, you can visit your local branch and a staff member can assist in signing up for email or text notifications.
    3. Take advantage of renewals. Most items (except videocassettes and DVDs) can be renewed up to eight times as long as there are no holds and your account is in good standing (movies have different renewal periods). Go online and work with your account to look at items you have checked out, as well as renew items. Or, call your local branch to renew by phone.
    4. Call 513-LIBRARY (513-542-7279), available 24/7, to manage your checkouts and holds and to receive hold and overdue notices.