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Borrowing Materials

How long can I borrow materials for?

Schedule of Materials and Loan Periods
Item Loan Period
Book 21 days
Best Bet 7 days
Video (except language learning video) 7 days
DVD (except language learning DVD) 7 days
Language learning video or DVD (including literacy) 21 days
CD 21 days
Cassette 21 days
Periodical or magazine 7 days
CD-ROM 21 days
eContent Varies as determined by licensing agreement
Music score 21 days
Picture collection 42 days
Items provided by Home Library Service Extended loans as determined by City-wide Services
Laptop 2 hours
Museum & Arts Pass Expiry date as specified on the Pass
What are the fines for overdue materials?

Schedule Showing Fines Per Day and Maximum Fines for Each Age Category
Age Category Fine Amount Per Day Per Item Maximum Per Item for Each Loan Period*
Adult/Senior $0.30 $12.00
Teen $0.15 $6.00
Child $0.10 $4.00
*Note that each renewal is considered another loan period.
Will I be notified something is overdue?
When an item is overdue for 7 days, you will get a courtesy email or phone call to let you know. It's always your responsibility to return your items on time, even if you don't get the email or phone call.
Can I use a credit card to pay my fines?
Yes
What happens if I don't pay my fines?
As of June 1, 2010, customer accounts will be blocked if any unpaid fine amount is on your account for 6 weeks or longer. Blocked accounts cannot take out library materials, place holds or renew items. Your account will be reinstated when all fines older than 6 weeks are paid. Call or visit a branch and speak to branch staff about your fines owed and your account. The library staff will be both reasonable and fair in resolving fine and account related concerns.
What happens when I've lost something I've borrowed?
You'll have to pay the purchase price of the item. The library doesn't accept a replacement copy or an item of equivalent value.
If something is overdue by more than 56 days, the library considers it lost.
The library says I have not returned something, but I'm sure I have. What can I do?
The library can mark an item as being "reported returned". Staff get lists of items marked reported returned and search for them regularly. If the item is not checked in or out within 120 days, it's marked lost and a replacement charge will be added to your account. Also, many libraries are closed on Monday mornings, so if you returned something on the weekend staff might not check it in until later that afternoon.
I found a lost item that I've already paid for. Can I get my money back?
Keep your receipt!
If you find the item within 6 months of paying the replacement cost you can get a refund, minus any overdue fines.
How many items can I have out at one time?
50
How do I renew items?
By phone: Call 416-393-7131 or contact your local branch

Online: In Your Account click on the Checkouts tab, click the box beside the titles you want to renew and click Renew Selected Items.
The renewal starts as of the current date, not when the item was originally due.
Why can't I renew something?
There are a few reasons why you might not be able to renew an item
  • Someone else has a hold on the item and is waiting for it.
  • It's a feature DVD that we've had for less than 6 months.
  • You have renewed it twice already.
  • It's a Best Bet - a new and popular title that can only be taken out for 1 week.
  • Your library card has expired.
  • You have exceeded the overdue fines threshold.
Am I eligible for Special Needs status?
People with disabilities may apply to have fine exempt status. You will need to fill out the Special Needs Application formand have it completed by a health care professional.
What do "hold", "trace", "in transit", "active/inactive/suspended", "expired" mean?
Hold: a request you make to have a specific library item delivered to a branch for you to pick up.
Trace: if a book is checked in, but library staff can't find where it's supposed to be on the shelf, it's marked trace.
In Transit: when an item is being shipped from one branch to another.
Active/Inactive/Suspended: you can make a hold inactive or suspended so that it won't be delivered until you make it active or unsuspended. This is very handy if you're going on vacation and don't want a long awaited DVD to be delivered while you're away.
Expired: a hold will become expired if it was delivered and you didn't pick it up or if you have had it on hold for more than 2 years.
How many items can I have on hold at one time?
60
How can I order something from the library?
To have something delivered from one branch to another that's more convenient for you, click on the Hold button associated with that item.
The amount of time it takes to have the item delivered depends on how many copies the library owns and how many people are ahead of you on the holds list.
What is my PIN?
Your PIN is the last 4 numbers of your telephone number. You can customize your PIN in Your Accountunder the Account Settings tab.
How do I find my hold when it's ready to pick-up?
Each branch has a holds shelf where the items are sorted by the last 4 numbers of your library card. They are held on the shelf for 7 days. If an item picked up by that time, it goes to the next person waiting for it.
Why can't I order a specific item I found?
There are a few possible reasons.
  • The item is a magazine.
  • It's rated as an adult film and you have a children's or teen card.
  • All the copies are reference - which means people can only use it in the library.
  • New release English DVDs aren't holdable for the first 6 months.
  • You have exceeded the overdue fines threshold.
Why aren't some DVDs available to put on hold?
There is a 6 month no-holds period for some new DVDs, usually for feature movies that played in a movie theatre or were theatrically released.
Every month, as new feature DVDs reach the end of their no-holds restriction period, they will appear on the new DVDs titles list.
How do I download Books, Movies and Videos from the library?
The library subscribes to 3 services for downloads and eBooks - Overdrive, Safari and NetLibrary. Here is how each service works
  • Overdrive - see: Get Started
  • Safari - offers computer eBook content and works in current versions of popular browsers.
  • NetLibrary - offers eBooks and eAudiobooks. To read an eBook, click "View this eBook" for the title you want. A PDF viewer is required. To listen to an eAudiobook click on "Download this eAudiobook". Most eAudiobooks are in Microsoft's WMA format and won't work with Apple. Some files are in MP3 and are Apple compatible.