Borrow items from a library

What you need to do

Reserve and collect

Members can place reservations in the online catalogue to be collected from one of our library locations. 

Self-checkout

• Self-service kiosks installed at our library branches help make borrowing faster and easier while improving services for our members.
• All library items have electronic tags so checking out is easy.
• Our employees can help with the self-service kiosks.

Returns

• Borrowed items can be returned to any library branch during opening hours or in the after-hours return chute.
• Toys and makerspace kits are to be returned to an employee at the original branch during opening hours.
• The new return chutes and shelves register returns immediately, so you can keep on borrowing straight away.

Online catalogue

• Search our online catalogue to find the title you want to borrow.
• Log in using your member barcode number or alias and your password. If you've forgotten your details, use member recovery or visit a branch.

Our books and ebooks, magazines, audio and eaudiobooks, music CDs, DVDS, language and makerspace kits are all searchable in the online catalogue.

You can also suggest titles you want the library to purchase and review items you have borrowed.

Overdue loans

If you have an overdue item or outstanding fee, your library membership will be temporarily suspended.

Lost or damaged items

Fees remain for lost or damaged items. Members can pay their fees at any library branch.

Loan renewals

• Each item can only be renewed twice. If another library member has reserved it, you won't be able to renew your loan.
• To make the renewal process easier we've introduced automatic renewals. This means if you have an email address in your membership account, your loans will automatically renew on the day the item is due.
• Automatic renewal will not occur if the item has been reserved by another borrower, or if it has already reached the maximum 2 renewals. You'll receive an email confirming if the loan has been renewed or not.

If you don't have an email address, you can renew your loan online, over the phone or at any branch.

Reserving items

You can reserve up to 20 items at a time. To reserve an item follow the steps below:

1. In the online catalogue, enter the title, author or keyword into the search box and click the magnifying glass icon.
2. In the search results, click the item’s title for more details.
3. The number of copies of the item available and the number of reserves is displayed. For example it might say ‘0 of 3 items available. 5 reserves’.
4. To reserve the item, click the ‘Reserve’ tab or the ‘Thumbs up’ icon.
5. If you’re not already logged in, a pop-up box to log in will appear. Enter your membership card barcode or alias and password. Then select ‘Login’.
6. Next to ‘Collect at’ select the branch you want to collect the item from.
7. Click the reserve ‘Thumbs up’ icon.
8. A message will appear to confirm that your reservation has been placed and your position in the reservation queue. Your position in the queue depends on how many other members have also reserved the item.
9. You will receive a notification by email or SMS when the item is ready for you to collect.
10. To cancel a reservation, log in to your account and click on ‘Reserves’ from your account summary. Tick the box next to the title and then click ‘Delete’.

How to activate a suspended reserve item

1. In the online catalogue click on ‘Login/Renew’. Enter your membership card barcode or alias and password. Then select ‘Login’.
2. Your membership summary will be displayed. Click ‘Reserves’.
3. In your list of reserved items, suspended items will show a ‘Locked’ icon. Tick the box next to the suspended item you want to reactive and click ‘Resume’.
4. A pop-up message will confirm that the item is now an active reservation and your position in the reservation queue will be displayed. Your position in the queue depends on how many other members have also reserved the item.
5. Under ‘Select new pick up location’ change the location to a branch offering the reserve and collect service if this is not already displayed and click save. A message will confirm that the location has been updated.
6. You will receive a notification by email or SMS when the item is ready for you to collect.
7. If you no longer wish to borrow any of your reserved items, tick the box next to the title and then click ‘Delete’.

Other reserve options

You can also email [email protected] to make a reservation, call us on 02 9265 9333, or visit one of our branches.

SMS and email alerts

To register to receive email or SMS alerts when your items are ready to be collected, please send a message with your details to [email protected].

Collection times for reserved items

Your reserve will be held at the branch for the following period:

• Pyrmont, Ultimo and Waterloo - 2 weeks
• All other branches - 10 days

Borrowing limits

30 items in total on a card at any time.

The following borrowing limits apply to library members for each category:

• books (30 a card)
• magazines (30 a card)
• CDs (30 a card)
• audiobooks (30 a card)
• DVDs (30 a card)
• language kits (30 a card)
• ebooks (5 a card)
• eaudiobooks (5 a card)
• ecomics (10 a card)
• emagazines (unlimited)
• enewspapers (unlimited)
• emusic (download limit 3 songs a week and 5 hours streaming a day)
• emovies on Beamafilm (unlimited)
• emovies on Kanopy (5 plays a month)
• video game consoles (1 a card)
• makerspace kits (1 a card)
• ukuleles (1 a card)
• musical instruments at Green Square Library (with music room hire only)
• toys (10 a card)
• reservations (30 items at a time)
• inter-library loans (5 items at a time)
• phone charger (1 a card, 3 hour loan in branch only)

Borrowing limits for temporary members

If you’re a non-NSW resident with temporary membership your borrowing limit is 5 items. Toys are limited to 3 and inter-library loans are not available.

If you’re a temporary library member and have homeless or refugee status – your borrowing limit is 5 items. Limits of up to 3 toys, 1 makerspace kit and 5 inter-library loans apply.