Library charges
Overdue charges
Following the recent government COVID -19 announcements, we are required to close Dorset libraries except for our Order and Collect service.
Existing loans due on or after 21 December 2020 will be automatically extended from the due date until at least 1 March 2021 (loans will be extended by 63 days). Should our libraries remain closed beyond this date, we will continue to extend these loans to ensure they do not go overdue. For items that are already overdue on or before 20 December 2020, charges will continue to apply. Items can be renewed using the Libraries West website, Libraries West app, or phoning 01305 224311.
For items that are already overdue on or before 20 December 2020
-
the daily charge for books borrowed on an adult library card is 20p per day overdue
-
there are no overdue charges for books borrowed on a child's library card
-
the overdue charge is applied on the basis that libraries are open six days a week. It is not possible for the system to recognise the varied pattern of each of the county libraries' opening hours (without creating difficulties in processes such as issuing, reserving or returning books)
You can:
-
return any library item to any Dorset library, or to any library in the LibrariesWest area.
-
renew all books except books requested by another customer
Overdue charges for books
| Overdue charges: books | Charges |
|---|
|
Borrowed on an adult card
|
20p per day
|
|
Maximum overdue charge
|
£9
|
|
For children
|
No charge
|
How to avoid overdue charges
You can renew library books:
- online
- by visiting any library
- by phoning your library
Lost or damaged library books
Speak to our staff if you have lost or damaged any library book or other item and they will advise how much you will be charged.
Hire periods
You can hire library items for different periods:
- DVDs:1 week hire period
- talking books: 3 weeks hire period
- music CDs:1 week hire period
Charges are made per hire period. Find our hire charges.
We ask you for the hire payment when you check the item out.
Courtesy reminders by email
To help you manage your library account, you can sign up for emails to alert you that items on loan will soon be due for return.
Speak to a library staff member to sign up for email alerts or amend your details.
Overdue notifications
Overdue notifications will be sent by email as this is a convenient and cost effective way to contact you. Sign up for an email alert.
Replacement membership cards
We can replace lost membership cards at your local library for a charge of £2.
Hire charges for library items
CDs and DVDs
Hire charges for talking books, CDs, DVDs and language courses:
| Item | Hire charge |
|---|
|
Adult talking books
|
£2.20
|
|
Music CDs
|
£1.10
|
|
Premium DVDs (new titles)
|
£3
|
|
Standard DVDs
|
£2.50
|
|
Information DVDs and other children's
|
£1
|
|
Language courses
|
£2.20
|
Music sets
Hire charges for music sets:
| Music sets | Hire charges |
|---|
|
Late or incomplete return
|
£20
|
From 1 April 2019
Music set hire from the 1 February 2018
| Music sets | Hire charge |
|---|
| Vocal scores |
£1.50 per copy for up to 12 weeks loan |
| Orchestral sets |
£50 per orchestral set for up to 12 weeks loan |
| Late or incomplete return |
£20 |
Drama sets
Hire charges for drama sets:
| Drama sets | Hire charge |
|---|
|
Play reading
|
Free up to 12 weeks
|
|
Overdue charge after 12 weeks
|
20p per item per day
|
|
Performance sets
|
£12 for 12 weeks
|
|
Overdue charge after 12 weeks
|
70p per set per day
|
Reading group sets
Hire charges for reading group sets
| Reading group sets | Subscription charge effective from 1 January 2018 |
|---|
|
Annual subscription
|
£50 per group for up to 12 sets (10 copies of a title) per annum for 8 week loan period.
|
Reservation fees
Reservation fees for reserved items collected from any Dorset Library:
| Item | Fee |
|---|
|
Music sets
|
£2 per set
|
|
Drama sets
|
£1 per set
|
|
For material supplied from outside the LibrariesWest area
|
£10 per item
|
|
For items in stock in a LibrariesWest library if you collect from any Dorset library
|
Free - donations of £1 are welcome
|
Printing
Printing fees for Dorset Libraries:
| Printing from public access computers | Charges |
|---|
|
Black and white A4 per page
|
10p |
| Colour A4 per page |
50p |
| Black and white A3 (where available) per page |
20p |
| Colour A3 (where available) per page |
£1 |