Library FAQs

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• More Help:
• Phone a Community Library
• Text: 925-290-7627 (8:30-5:00 Mon-Fri)
• E-mail us

Common Questions:

• My library card account is expired. How can I update it?
• How do I renew the items I have borrowed?
• How do I place holds on items?
• How do I pay fines online?
• How do I resolve problems with downloading ebooks (e-books)?
• How do I use Discover & Go?

What fines does the library charge?

 

FINES

The library charges fines to encourage customers to return materials so others can use them.

Fines owed remain on your account until paid. Materials can still be borrowed from the Library if fines on an account are under $10.00. 

Accounts owing $10.00 or more will be blocked from borrowing materials and collection efforts will continue until the fines/fees are paid.

Accounts owing $50.00 or more (effective July 1, 2015) or $35.00 or more prior to July 1, 2015, will be referred to our materials recovery agency, Unique Management Services (aka: "UMS" or "Unique National Collections")

The parent or guardian of a child is responsible for any overdue materials, fines or fees on the child's account.

Each library card user is expected to monitor their library card activity. Library card activity, including information about outstanding materials, fines, or fees is accessible online by logging into your library account. You may also contact library staff for information about your account.

EBooks,eAudiobooks, eVideos, and eMagazines will automatically be returned at the end of the lending period and cannot accumulate late fees. 

Schedule of Fines and Charges - Effective January 1, 2014

TYPE OF MATERIAL	DAILY   OVERDUE FINE PER ITEM	MAXIMUM   OVERDUE FINE   PER ITEM	LOST / REPLACEMENT   FEE	LOST / REPLACEMENT PROCESSING   FEE *	MATERIALS RECOVERY / LATE FEE **
Adult & Young   Adult   Books, CD's, Cassettes	$0.25	$5.00 per item or cost if less	Item price or $25.00	$5.00	$10.00
Adult & Young   Adult   Paperbacks, Magazines, Pamphlets	$0.25	$2.00 per item or cost if less	$5.00	--	$10.00
Juvenile   Books, CDs, Cassettes	$0.10	$1.00 per item or cost if less	Item price or $15.00	$5.00	$10.00
Juvenile   Paperbacks, Magazines, Pamphlets	$0.10	$1.00 per item or cost if less	$3.00	--	$10.00
Videos, DVDs & CD   ROM Products	$1.00	$5.00 per item	Item price or $25.00	$5.00	$10.00
Kits	$1.00	$5.00 per Kits	Replacement Cost	$5.00	$10.00
Equipment   Projectors, Cassette Player, Engravers, etc.	$1.00	$5.00 per item	Replacement Cost	$5.00	$10.00
LINK+ Interlibrary   Loan items	$1.00	$5.00 per item	Determined by   lending library, not   to exceed $115.00,   including   processing fee	--	$10.00

Note:  Fines accrued at the time of renewal are not canceled.

 Notices

• 10 days overdue: The Library notifies you by email, phone, or U.S. Mail.
• 30 days overdue: The Library notifies you by U.S. Mail that the items are considered lost and requests the replacement cost & a $5.00 processing fee for each item.
• 60 days overdue: Account balances of $50.00 or more (effective July 1, 2015), or $35.00 or more (prior to July 1, 2015), are sent to a materials recovery agency Unique Management Services (UMS, aka Unique National Collections): and a $10.00 materials recovery fee is added to the library card account to cover that cost.  UMS will attempt to contact the patron or their parent, if cardholder is a minor), both by phone and U. S. Mail.  Accounts will remain in collection until overdue materials are returned, and/or outstnding fines and fees are paid in full, and any remaining account delinquencies are otherwise resolved.

Note:   The Library does not send notices or bills for outstanding overdue fines (late fees).  For accounts with balances of $50.00 or more consisting solely of overdue fines (no lost or overdue materials), UMS will send a preliminary bill on behalf of the Library, prior to initiating collection activity.  The cost for this service is included in the $10.00 fee.

Payments

Fines may be paid by cash or check in person or by U.S. Mail, or online by credit or debit card. Library staff are not allowed to handle credit/debit card transactions. The library provides self-service computers on site for customers to process their credit card payments. We currently accept both VISA and MasterCard.

 

Refunds

Payments made for fines and fees are non-refundable, with a few exceptions. Refer to Refunds for more detailed information.

 

UMS & Your Credit Rating

As of June 15, 2016, library card accounts will not be credit reported.  However, once an account is referred to our materials recovery and billing service, Unique National Collections, AKA Unique Management Services, or UMS), the account status will remain in collection and the account will be blocked until the overdue materials are returned in good condition, and all outstanding fines and fees are paid in full, and any remaining delinquencies otherwise resolved.  Borrowing privileges will be restored once the account balance is $0.00.

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