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Borrowing Items

The King County Library System may not own certain items you want to check out. If you have already looked in the KCLS catalog to confirm that we don’t own a particular item, you have two options for requesting the item:

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

KCLS will request the item from another library in the United States. Depending on the number of libraries that own the item and its availability, this typically takes 2-4 weeks.

NOTE: The following items are not available through ILL: CDs, DVDs, Audiobooks and eBooks.
Request an Interlibrary Loan | Learn more about interlibrary loans.

Purchase Suggestions

We welcome your suggestions regarding items that you would like to see included in the King County Library System’s collection. Due to the large volume of suggestions received, we are unable to purchase all materials.
Submit a Purchase Suggestion | Learn more about Purchase Suggestions

Circulation (Checkout) Desk

1. Bring your items to the circulation (or checkout) desk.
2. Have your library card ready. Or, if you forgot or lost your library card, have your photo ID handy.
3. Once your library card has been scanned or your identification verified, the library assistant will check out your items.
4. When your transaction is completed, you will be given a receipt.

Self-Checkout

To avoid the checkout desk line, consider checking out library materials yourself. Go to the self-checkout station (located near the checkout desk) and follow these steps:

1. Press Enter on the keypad.
2. Scan the library card barcode on the back of your card or type in your library card number, and then press Enter.
3. Type your PIN (this is your secret code, which is often the last four digits of your phone number), and then press Enter.
4. For each item, scan the library barcode (which is usually located on the front of the item and says “King County Library System”).
5. After all items have been scanned, press Enter.
6. Take your receipt from the receipt printer.

Loan Periods

Here’s a guide to how long you can keep various items you have checked out. Please keep in mind that some materials may be available for use only in the library. For more information, please ask a library staff member.

Books, audiocassettes, CDs, CD-ROMs, eAudio: 28 days; two 28-day renewals allowed.

eBooks: 21 days; two 21-day renewals allowed.

“Books to grow on” kits: 28 days; two 28-day renewals allowed.

Magazines, videos, DVDs: 7 days, two 7-day renewals allowed.

Media equipment: 1 day (in-library use).

Item Limits

Here is a guide to the total number and types of items patrons can reserve (hold) or checkout using their KCLS library card:

• Holds: 25 items; Holds which are available for pick-up, but not yet checked out, count towards this limit.
• Checkouts: Maximum 100 items
• Special Materials: five (5) children’s holiday books (due to demand)

Returning Library Materials

When your borrowed materials are due, you may return them to any KCLS community library. External book drops are conveniently located at each library and are available for returning materials after regular library hours. Check here for a list of library locations and hours

Fines and Fees

Information about library material loan periods & overdue fines.

Refundable and Nonrefundable Materials

Refunds are not available for parts and pieces, overdue fines, or items that do not display a specific title in My Account. For a full list of refundable and nonrefundable items, visit

 

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Last Updated: June 24, 2008