Checkout, Renewal and Return

Checkout limits/Loan Period/Renewal

Most library accounts allow the following number of items checked out at any one time. “Your Lucky Day” materials are not renewable.

Material Type	Limit	Loan Period	Renewal
Books	40	3 weeks	Yes
Audio Books	10	3 weeks	Yes
Music CDs	10	3 weeks	Yes
DVDs	5	1 week	Yes
Magazines	10	1 week	No
Downloadable audio books & music	4	2 weeks	Yes
Books in a Bag	1	6 weeks	No
Wii Games	1	1 weeks	Yes
Kill A Watt Meter	1	3 weeks	No

See borrowing exceptions for Courtesy, Senior, Homebound, and Teacher accounts and Books in a Bag kits.

Late Fees

There are no late fees on Children’s materials with the exception of DVDs and Wii games. Senior accounts are exempt from late fees on Boulder Public Library materials only.

Material Type	Late Fees per day	Maximum Late Fee
Books	$0.20	$5.00
Audio Books	$0.20	$5.00
Music CDs	$0.20	$5.00
DVDs	$1.00	$10.00
Magazines	$0.20	$5.00
Downloadable audio books and music	No late fees	No late fees
Books in a Bag	$1.00	$10.00
Wii Games	$1.00	$10.00
Kill A Watt Meters	$0.20	$5.00

See borrowing exceptions for Courtesy, Senior, Homebound, and Teacher accounts and Books in a Bag kits.

Renewals

Eligible items may be renewed on time before the due date. Renew items in person, by accessing your account online, or by telephoning 303-441-3100. You will need your library card number to renew items.

Prospector items are not eligible for renewal using the automated telephone renewal system. Please call the number above or stop by the Main library, or the Meadows or Reynolds branch libraries during business hours if you are unable to renew Prospector items online.

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Returning Items

You can return any library items belonging to the Flatirons Library Consortium or Prospector libraries at the Main Library, Reynolds, and Meadows branches.

Outdoor book returns at the Main Library are located in the northwest corner of the Canyon Blvd. parking lot and near the southwest side of the Arapahoe entrance.

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Courtesy Due Date & Overdue Notification

Knowing when your library items are due is your responsibility! There is no grace period. To help you keep track of item due dates, the library sends the following notices:

Three day advanced courtesy e-mail notice
One week overdue notice
Two week overdue notice
Three week bill for replacement charges

Be aware that non-receipt of these notices does not release you from your responsibility to return materials on time. It is your responsibility to let us know when your mailing address, telephone number or e-mail address has changed. You must have a valid e-mail address in your library account in order to receive courtesy notices. If you do not provide us with an e-mail address, the one-week and two-week overdue notices will be provided to you by telephone. The bill for replacement charges (sent after items are three weeks overdue) is always mailed to you. To update your e-mail address, call 303-441-3100 or log on to “My Account” on the library’s Web site (top right corner). Library accounts with items that become five weeks overdue may be sent to a collection agency.

NOTE on SPAM FILTERS:: If you want to receive email courtesy notices and currently use a spam filter, don't forget to add our address (circadm@nell.boulderlibrary.org) or our domain (boulderlibrary.org) to your "allowed senders" list!

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Paying Fees

You may pay any fees with cash or personal check at the check-out desk at the Main Library, or at the Meadows or Reynolds branches. You may make credit card payments at the information desk inside the Arapahoe Avenue entrance to the main library or by telephoning 303-441-4107. Note that any fees totaling $10.00 or more block your borrowing and renewal privileges.

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Blocks on Your Library Privileges

Your borrowing, renewal, and database access privileges are blocked if you have:

1 or more overdue library items that have holds, or
1 or more library items that are 15 days overdue, or
$10.00 or more in fees (see payment information), or
your account has expired.

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Lost and Damaged Items

When library items become three weeks overdue, a billing notice is sent stating the replacement fee. This fee must be paid if the item has been lost. If the library item is returned, late fees are charged and the replacement fee is waived from your library account.

Replacement fee = Library's cost of the item + $5.00 processing fee

Books in a Bag has a separate replacement fee structure.

The replacement charge for ANY materials borrowed from a Prospector library is $40.00, no exceptions.

The library is UNABLE to accept replacement items in exchange for any lost materials or refund the replacement fee should you locate the material at a later date.

The library charges to replace missing parts or to repair or replace damaged library items. Extreme heat or direct sunlight may harm audio-visual library items. You are responsible for paying replacement charges for any materials that are damaged while checked out on your library account.

Library items that are returned with parts missing will either remain checked out to you until all the parts are returned, or a replacement fee will be charged to your account. The replacement fee for items with damaged or missing parts is $15.00 for items belonging to the Boulder Public Library (see exceptions for Books in a Bag) and $40.00 for items belonging to any Prospector library. The replacement fee will be waived if all parts are returned, though late fees may still apply. Ask a library staff member for specific replacement fees for damaged library materials.

The Boulder Public Library assumes no liability for the use of audio-visual library items, including but not limited to CDs, DVDs, and videos or for the equipment on which these items are played.

If an audio-visual item that you have borrowed malfunctions or has sustained damage by the previous user, please notify a library staff member so it can be repaired or replaced.

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