Borrowing Fees
Checkout Periods & Limits
- Books, audiobooks, portable DVD players, Power Check meters, and musical instruments check out for three weeks.
- DVDs and magazines check out for one week.
- Interlibrary Loan items generally check out for four weeks, though loan periods are determined by the lending library.
- Holds may be placed on all items, with the exception of non-circulating items such as the Reference collection and restrictions placed by other libraries.
- All items may be renewed twice EXCEPT:
- New items
- Items on hold for another patron
Returns
- Items can be returned to any library location. If items are returned after-hours or during a holiday, they will be back-dated to the last time the library was open.
- All library locations have an after-hours book drop.
Fees
Effective January 1, 2020, Grand County Library District no longer charges fines for overdue materials. Our goal as a library is to provide free, equitable access for all library patrons. By removing overdue fines, we increase access to library collections has occurred which is our primary purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Fees
No problem if you’re a little late. Return all items on your account, and there is no overdue fine.
If items become 21 days overdue, the replacement cost of the item + a $5 processing fee is billed to your account. If the item is returned within six months, charges are removed from your account.
Yes, however, your library account will be blocked if you owe $20 or more.
Fines are less than 0.5% of our annual budget.
Yes! There are several ways to support your community’s libraries. Thank you for your generosity.
Yes. You will receive a reminder 3 days before an item is due, an overdue notice when 7 days overdue, and a billing notice when 21 days overdue. Want to quickly and easily manger your account from your phone? Sign up for text message alerts! Learn more.
Our goal as a library is to provide free, equitable access for all library patrons. By removing overdue fines, we will increase access to library collections for those who have been blocked from borrowing materials because they hit the previously low lockout threshold. In addition, the American Library Association asserts that imposing monetary fines creates barriers to accessing information. They continue to urge libraries to move to eliminating fines. Research also suggests that fines don’t actually incentivize people to return materials. Going fine free is a growing trend in libraries across the country, and we’ve seen that it actually results in increased library visits and collection circulation. No fines does not mean no responsibility. Patrons are responsible to return library materials in good condition. If they don’t, the replacement cost of the materials will still be charged to their account. Library accounts will be blocked when there is a balance of $20 or more. We get that life gets in the way of returning materials sometimes. People who are fined often get frustrated enough that they don’t return to the library at all, something we don’t want.