Click4Assistance UK Live Chat Software
Skip to main content

Borrowing, charges and fines

Borrowing items

You may borrow up to 20 physical items from your local library. This may include:

  • Books and audiobooks

Most items are loaned for three weeks.

Renewing items

Items on loan can be easily renewed (if they are not reserved by another borrower). You can renew items in the following ways.

Renew items online

You can also renew by email, phone or visiting a library. You can find details for your local library below.

Find a library
Books
  • No charge
Audiobooks and language courses
  • Adult titles: £1.60 per three weeks 
  • Children's titles: 80p per three weeks 
  • Concessionary: £1.10 per three weeks


Library members who have difficulty reading print or handling books will not be charged for the loan or reservation of audiobooks, language courses or large print books.

Late return fines

To encourage library members to return items on time, the following late fines are charged:

Books loaned on an adult ticket
  • 20p per item per day to a maximum of £8 per item
  • Concessionary ticket, 10p per item per day to a maximum of £4 per item
Books loaned on a child ticket
  • U13s, no charge
  • 5p per item per day to a maximum of £1 per item
  • Children's books/audiobooks borrowed on an adult ticket are subject to the adult fine rate
Audiobooks loaned on an adult ticket 
  • 35p per item per day up to £10 per item
  • Concessionary ticket, 25p per day up to a maximum of £4 per item
Audiobooks loaned on a child ticket
  • U13s, no charge
  • 13 - 17 years, 20p per day per item up to £8 per item

Charges for overdue items

If you have an email address, you can opt to receive a free notice email when items are due for return or renewal. However, this is a courtesy service and the prompt return or renewal of loans remains the responsibility of the library member, therefore, in the event of non-delivery of the advance email any overdue charges cannot be waived.

Reserving an item

You can reserve or place a hold on items online. You will need your library card number and PIN.

Reserve items online

Reserving items within Cheshire Libraries 

  • Reserve items for adults (18 and over) within Cheshire: £1
  • Concessionary ticket: 55p

A hold fee will be applied when you collect your item. The appropriate charge will also be applied if you do not collect your hold. Your hold can be cancelled by contacting your local library or by contacting our general enquiries.

  • Reserve items for children from within Cheshire: free of charge

Reserving items outside of Cheshire Libraries

  • Reserve items from a UK library outside Cheshire: £3.60
  • Books from the British Library (and libraries which charge British Library rates): £18.85
  • Please note: replacement costs for lost/damaged British Library books can be substantial
  • British Library renewal: £6.25

Ordering journal articles from the British Library

  • Journal article sent to personal email: £6.70
  • Journal article printed and sent to Library Shared Services: £13.20
  • Electronic scan to email from print: £11.70

Charges for using a library computer, printing documents and making copies

Personal computer use for library members
  • One hour per day: free of charge
  • £2 per hour or part of an hour thereafter
  • £1 for concessionary 
  • £1 for children
Personal computer use for visitors
  • £2 per hour or part of an hour
Printing (per page) black and white
  • 20p for adult
  • 10p for concessionary 
  • 10p for children
Printing (per page) colour
  • 80p for adult
  • 40p for concessionary 
  • 40p for children
Photocopies black and white
  • 10p per A4 sheet
  • 20p per A3 sheet
Photocopies colour
  • £1 per A4 sheet
  • £1.50 per A3 sheet (where available)

Charges for lost library tickets or lost or damaged items

Lost library tickets

For computerised libraries, including mobile libraries, replacement is charged as follows.

  • £1.60 for adult
  • 80p for concessionary
  • 80p for children

Lost and damaged items

Charges for lost and damaged items are calculated in the following ways:

All items Charges
  • Up to two years old
  • Two to four years old
  • Four to six years old
  • Six years and over
  • Full purchase price
  • 75 per cent of purchase price
  • 50 per cent of purchase price
  • 25 per cent of purchase price


The minimum charge for any lost or damaged item is £2.50. An administration charge of £2.50 will be deducted from any refund, if a lost item is found.