Library Card, Borrowing Procedures, and Policies

Library Card: How to Get a Card, Borrowing Procedures, and Policies

Borrowing Procedures and Lending Policy | Borrowing Locations and Returning Materials | Loan Policy and Item Limits | Borrowing Restrictions | Fines and Fees | Renewal of Library Materials | Holds and Telephone Requests | Additional Audiovisual Procedures | Download Library Card Application

To obtain an adult library card, patrons must present a picture ID, verification of their name, address and signature and complete a library card application. Patrons younger than 18 years old may be issued a library card if their parent's or guardian's signature is on the library card application. Library cards are free to applicants who reside within the State of California or own property in the City of San Diego, and to men and women serving in the Armed Forces who are stationed within San Diego County. Library cards are permanent and must be renewed every two years. There is a $30 annual fee for a non-resident Library card.

Borrowing Procedures and Lending Policy

In order to borrow library materials, you must present a valid San Diego Public Library card. Your library card is permanent, but it must be renewed every two years (renew in person at a library location). When you sign your new card you assume responsibility for anything that is checked-out on the card. If you change your address, notify the library on your next visit. If your library card is ever lost or stolen, it is very important to notify the library as soon as possible, since you are responsible for items checked out on your card. Card Replacement fee is $2.00/adult and $1.00/children.

Borrowing Locations and Returning Materials

Your Library Card may be used at any San Diego Public Library location. When your borrowed materials are due, you may return library materials to any public library in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Loan Policy and Item Limits

Maximum Items on a Library Card at One Time:		40 or a value of $600.00 whichever is reached first
Limits by Material	Item Limit	Loan Period	Renewal Limit
Books	40	21 days	1
Large Print Books	40	21 days	1
Magazines	40	21 days	1
Music Scores	40	21 days	1
Paperback Books	40	21 days	1
Audiocassettes (AC)	15	21 days	1
CD-Rom/DVD-Rom	3	21 days	1
Compact Discs (CD) – Audio Books and Music	10	21 days	1
Video Material (DVC, DVD, VCD, VC [video cassette], VHS [video cassette], VD)	5	7 days	1

Borrowing Restrictions

Borrowers under 18 must have parental permission to check-out DVDs, videocassettes, and videodiscs. Parents can add this permission to their children's cards at any library location.
Materials with holds may not be renewed.
Material may not be transferred from one library card to another.

Fines/Fees

Notice to Patrons: An increase of the Adult maximum fine to $20, proposed at the June 7, 2005, City Council meeting was approved. The change took effect on July 1, 2005.

Fine/Fee Description	Adult	Young Adult	Juvenile
Overdue Fine for Books, Audiocassettes, Compact Discs, CD-Roms/DVD-Roms:	$.25/day	$.10/day	$.10/day
Maximum Overdue Fine for Books, Audiocassettes, Compact Discs, CD-Roms/DVD-Roms:	$20.00	$5.00	$5.00
Overdue Fine for Video Material*:	$2.00/day	$2.00/day	$2.00/day
Maximum Overdue Fine for Video Material*:	$20.00	$10.00	$10.00
Overdue Fine for Magazines, Paperbacks, and non-cataloged material:	$.25/day	$.10/day	$.10/day
Maximum Fine for Magazines, Paperbacks, and non-cataloged material:	$5.00	$5.00	$5.00
Annual Non-Resident Library Card Fee:	$30.00	$30.00	$30.00
Library Card Replacement Fee for lost, stolen or damaged cards	$2.00	$1.00	$1.00
Material Replacement Fee for items lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair:	$10.00/item	$5.00/item	$5.00/item
Restock Fee:	$1.00/item	$1.00/item	$1.00/item

*Video materials are: DVC (Described Video Cassette), DVD (Digital Video Disc), VC (Video Cassette), VCD (Video Compact Disc), VD (Video Disc) and VHS (Video Cassette).

Fines and fees are subject to change; advance notice of 30 days will be posted.

Renewals of Library Materials

Patrons may renew their materials in person at any Library location.

Patrons may also renew their materials online via the Library Catalog and their accounts. See the Library's Renewals, Holds, and Patron Library Accounts information for more details.

A Telephone Renewal Service is also available. Patrons who wish to renew their Library materials by phone may call the Central Library, at 619-236-5800, or 858-484-4440 (toll free from the North County), press 1 (for touch-tone phone), and press 3 to renew Library materials.

Holds and Telephone Requests

Circulating Library materials, including video materials may be placed on hold through the Library's web catalog. Click on the "Place Hold" link in the Library's web catalog to place an item on hold. You will be notified when your hold is available at your pick-up location. Items will be held for eight days at the pick-up location after the notice is sent. A $1.00 restocking fee will be charged for holds not picked up. Fees are subject to change without notice.

There is a 25 title hold limit. Holds may not be placed on reference titles, magazines, or electronic materials.

Additional Audiovisual Procedures

The copyright holder has licensed audiovisual materials for private home use only and prohibits any use, copying, reproduction or performance in public (unless public performance rights are indicated) in whole or in part. No admission may be charged when using any audiovisual materials.

Please do not attempt to repair any damaged audiovisual material.
San Diego Public Library will not be responsible for any damage to the borrower's audio or video equipment.

Download Library Card Application

To assist you in completing a Library Card Application, you may wish to download the English or Spanish version of our application form by using the below links:

Library Card Registration Form (English) [PDF:64K]

Library Card Registration Form (Spanish) [PDF:68K]

Once completed, please take your form to any City library location for a Library card.