Returning materials

Our Main Library has a drive-up book return at the back, off Healey Street. The Douglass Branch has an outside book return facing Grove Street. Both are open 24/7, even on holidays. You can also return items inside both libraries.

To know when items are due:

• Check your online account for the most up-to-date information
• Save your due date receipts; keep them in one easy-to-find place
• Call us at 217/403–2000; have your library card number handy
• Get e-mail reminders from your library account, or from Library ELF

Overdue fees

We encourage you to return things on time so you’ll never have a late fee. Most overdue fees are 20 cents per day per item. Kindles, for use at the library, have a fee of $1 per hour.

The maximum overdue fee for one item is half the cost of that item. Fees start the first day after the due date and are charged every day except days we are closed.

Long overdue accounts may be referred to a collection agency.

Fees from other libraries

If you borrow items from other libraries for pickup at our library, remember that overdue fees are charged by the library that owns the item. Please be aware that other libraries’ fees may be higher than ours.

E-mail Reminders

We encourage you to enter your e-mail in your library account profile to get e-mail notices. A reminder arrives a few days before each item is due.

Please note, however, that we cannot guarantee the reliability of e-mail messages. Borrowers are still responsible for knowing when items are due. We recommend that you call us or check your account online. Any interruption in e-mail reminder service does not excuse patrons from fees if items are returned late.

Rentals: The “Get It Now” Option

Our bestsellers and DVDs include some with green stickers that say Rental: $1/week. Rentals let you choose to pay a little to get an item right away. (We always have a free copy, too, except for video games.) The dollars we collect for rentals help us buy more books and DVDs.

Rental items can be renewed up to 3 times (for $1/week). Rentals cannot be reserved, so you’re guaranteed that you can keep them longer, if you wish to.

How much can I borrow?

You may have up to 5 video games and 20 entertainment DVDs checked out at a time. For everything else, we ask our cardholders to set their own reasonable limit, keeping in mind that these are shared resources. Remember that you’re responsible for returning everything on time. Please take only as much as you can keep track of.