Loan periods
3 weeks for books, magazines, audiobooks and CDs.
1 or 2 weeks for Law Library materials.
1 week for DVDs.
Request first available copy
Request titles from any branch for pick-up at your preferred branch or Library Express using the online catalog or Ask a Librarian. Popular titles may have waiting lists. Feature films released within the past two years and reference books are not requestable.
Renew materials
Loan periods for most borrowed materials may be extended two times. Items with waiting lists, feature films produced within the past two years and interlibrary loans cannot be extended. Renew materials online at www.co.washington.mn.us/library or through Ask a Librarian.
Return materials
Book returns are open 24/7 at all branches. Materials may also be returned to any public library in the Twin Cities metro area. Items returned at other metro libraries remain on your account until they arrive back to Washington County Library.
Limits
To share library resources in a fair and timely manner, there are limits for any library account at one time.
5 eBooks checked out; 5 requests for eBooks; 7 titles may be added to a Bookbag while browsing.
10 MnLink (interlibrary loan) requests.
20 title requests.
25 overdue items.
100 total items.
Borrowing privileges are suspended when limits are exceeded.
Notices
Washington County Library sends courtesy e-mail or mail notices for...
materials nearing due date (e-mail only).
overdue materials.
lost materials.
A final courtesy notice is sent at six weeks overdue for unreturned three-week loans and at three weeks overdue for unreturned one-week loans. The final notice is a bill for the replacement cost of materials plus a nonrefundable $8 recovery fee for each item. Thirty days after the final notice is sent unpaid charges of more than $50 are sent to Washington County for debt collection.
Card holders should update their e-mail and mailing addresses at a library.
Fees
$3 for a replacement library card.
$60 a year for a library card for non-Minnesota residents or Minnesota residents whose city or county does not participate in a Minnesota regional library system.
Replacement cost for damaged items. If a library item is returned in a condition that makes it unusable, it is considered damaged.
Replacement price for unreturned or lost items. Items that check out for three weeks are considered lost when they are six weeks overdue. Items that check out for one week are considered lost when they are three weeks overdue. If a library user pays for an item, and later finds the item, the payment will not be returned.
$8 recovery fee for each item that is not returned before being considered lost. To avoid the $8 recovery fee, return items by their due dates or renew items that you want to keep longer. If you misplace, damage, or lose a library item, pay the replacement price before you receive a bill for the item.
10 cents per page for photocopies.
15 cents per page for printing from PC.
70 cents per page for color photocopies (Hardwood Creek Branch only).
If you have unpaid fees on your library account, borrowing privileges are suspended until the fees have been resolved.
Washington County Library does not charge daily fines for overdue materials.
--Updated 12/1/11
