Borrowing Policies

Materials may be borrowed upon completion of the application. Bring your card each time you come to the library. You may use your library card at any Santa Clara County Library and the Bookmobile.

Materials checked out on your card are your responsibility. For your own protection, do not lend your library card. Inform the Library immediately if it is lost or stolen. There is a replacement fee. Library privileges may be revoked if abused.

Freedom of Access

Santa Clara County Library does not restrict access to any materials based on age. Responsibility for minors' selection of material rests with their parents or guardians. The Library does not act in loco parentis.

Confidential Information

The Santa Clara County Library recognizes our responsibility to protect each individual's right to privacy. California Law assures confidentiality of registration and circulation records. Questions asked, materials read, and information supplied at registration are all confidential.

Library staff may not give information about a patron's registration and circulation records to anyone other than the patron. This means, for example, that library staff may not give information to a parent about materials that have been checked out on his child's card or to a spouse about materials that have been checked out on his partner's card.

The library recognizes that in many families library cards are shared among family members. However, in order to comply with library policy and state law, we may give information about materials that have been checked out on a card to the card owner only.

The Library is also obligated under California law to retrieve unreturned library materials. Unpaid library debts are financial records which are not confidential and may be disclosed.

Care of Library Materials

All items which are taken out of the library must be checked out. It is illegal to remove an item from the library without first checking it out. (California Penal Code 490.5).

Books should be returned in the condition in which they were checked out. If they are returned with major damage (e.g. wet from water or drink damage, chewed by a dog, etc.), you will be asked to pay the original cost of the book plus a processing fee.

The library is not responsible for any equipment damage resulting from use of any material. Do not leave cassettes in a closed car on a warm day. Protect from direct sunlight, heat, cold, and magnetic fields. Please rewind audio and video cassettes. When returning cassettes, please alert staff to any problems. Return all parts such as booklets, instructions, etc. which were checked out with the item.

Missing Parts: If any part is missing upon return, (e.g. missing cassette, missing booklets, disks, etc.) we will try to replace the missing part(s) and charge a replacement fee only. If it is not possible to replace the missing part(s), you will be charged for the entire cost instead of only replacement of the missing part.

Bookdrop Returns

Items returned in the bookdrop before 8 a.m. will be checked in as if returned the previous day.

Fines and Fees Policy and Schedule

The Santa Clara County Library Fines & Fees Policy is a description of the policies governing the circulation of library materials. The Fines & Fees Schedule provides a complete list of all library fines and other charges.

Lost Material Policy

An overdue item is declared lost 42 days after due date. The cost of the item and a non-refundable processing fee is charged to your account when item is declared lost. See "Santa Clara County Library Fines & Fees Schedule" for specific fees.

You are responsible for reporting a billed item which you believe you have returned. The Library will search for the item. If the item is found, it will be immediately removed from the account, including all charges. If the item is not found, the cost of the item and processing fee will remain on the account. If a lost and unpaid for item is recovered in good condition within 6 months of due date, the cost of the item is waived. The processing fee is still owed.

If a lost and paid item is recovered within 6 months of due date, the cost of the item is refundable. See the Refund Policy for specifics.

A lost item recovered 6 months after due date is no longer eligible for a refund or an automatic waive of the price of the item. The item's record will have been deleted from the catalog and the replacement process started. The librarian may accept an item for refund or waive of the price of the item even after the 6 months limit if it is of special value to the collection. Please feel free to inquire.

The library does not accept the replacement of lost items unless a librarian has agreed to the exchange in advance. A processing fee is charged for the replacement.

When Library Materials are Stolen

You are responsible for the cost of the item plus a processing fee when library materials are stolen while checked out on your library card.

The Library will provide you with a printout of the value of the items charged to your account.

You will receive billing notices if your account is not cleared. If you find it difficult to pay the amount due in one payment, discuss a payment plan with the clerk to maintain your library privileges .

Refund Policy

The cost of a lost and paid item is refundable if it is returned in good condition within 6 months of the paid date.

The librarian may accept an item for refund even after the 6 months limit if it is of special value to the collection. Please feel free to inquire.

Amounts $0.99 or less will be considered a donation to the library.

Processing fees are not refundable.

The refund will be less other fines and fees owed to the library.

The library does not accept the replacement of lost items unless a librarian has agreed to the exchange in advance. A processing fee is charged for the replacement, and the cost is not eligible for refund.

The cost of lost books from book club kits and lost cds/cassettes from unabridged talking books are non-refundable.