Borrowing and returning
A standard library card allows 24 items to be borrowed for a maximum of 3 weeks unless renewed for longer. There are some borrower categories that are entitled to a greater number of loans, contact a library to find out more.
Any item borrowed from a Leicestershire or Rutland Library can be returned to any Leicestershire or Rutland Library. Items can be returned using the returns letterbox while libraries are closed.
If an item is returned late there may be an overdue charge to pay, find out more about library fees and charges.
Renew an item
If you would like to keep your library books for longer than 3 weeks you can renew them using our online library catalogue when signed in to your account.
The online renewal service will show you the date your items are due for return.
Borrowed library items can be renewed up to 5 times as long as they have not been reserved by someone else.
Talking books may incur additional loan charges, see our fees and charges for more information.
It is not possible to renew an item that has been requested by another library member, instead we ask that you return the item to any Leicestershire library by the item due date. If you have any questions about an item you have on loan please contact a library or email libraries@leics.gov.uk
Reserve an item
You can log in to the online library catalogue to search and reserve library books and talking books that are available at libraries across Leicestershire and Rutland.
Once you have found the item you are looking for you can reserve it for collection at your local library by placing a hold. If it is currently out on loan, you can reserve it for collection after it has been returned unless there is a waiting list. You will be notified when an item that you have reserved is available for you to collect.
There may be a charge for this service, see our fees and charges for more information.
If you cancel a hold on the same day that you placed it using the online library catalogue, any fees for the hold will automatically be removed from your account the following day.
Sign into the Online Library Catalogue
To sign in to the online library catalogue you will need your:
- Library PIN
- Library card number or temporary borrower number
If you don’t know your library card number or PIN
If you don’t know your library card number or have lost your library card, contact a library. There may be a charge for a replacement library card, see our fees and charges for more information.
If you don’t know your PIN you can ask staff at any library to reset your PIN, or you can use the 'Forgot your PIN code' link at Sign into your account
Inter library loans
An inter library loan is an item that we do not have in stock in Leicestershire libraries, but we can borrow on your behalf from another library within the UK.
This is a national service where libraries work together to supply items using the national public library catalogue and the British library catalogue to locate and source items on behalf of a customer.
There is a charge of £6 to £12 for this service depending on where the item can be located from. For more information email libraries@leics.gov.uk.