Services and charges

2026-2027

Stock Type Loan Period      Loan Fee Overdue Charges
Books 3 weeks Free 30p per day for the first 7 days then £1.90 per week to a maximum of £9.35 per item
Audiobooks 3 weeks

1-3 CDs or cassettes £1.40

4+ CDs or cassettes £2.85

Children's audiobooks £1.40

 30p per day for the first 7 days then £1.90 per week to a maximum of £9.35 per item
e-books and e-audiobooks 3 weeks Free N/A
CDs 1 week £1.40 Loan fee per week to a maximum of £4.70 per item
DVDs 1 week £2.75 Loan fee per week to a maximum of £6.35 per item
Language sets

Single item - 3 weeks

Multiple item sets - 6 weeks

£1.40

 

£4.90

 Loan fee per week to a maximum of £4.70 per single item and £16.25 per multi-item set
Prices listed represent a standard adult membership (concessions apply to certain other membership types)*
Details of our full range of online digital services can be found here: libraries.essex.gov.uk

 

*The following members are exempt from certain library and overdue charges:

  • Access card - customers unable to read print due to visual impairment, physical impairment or a learning disability you do not have to pay any charges on audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs and language courses. Charges are made for overdue books and damaged items
  • Friends and Family card, Home Library Service users, Memory Support card - customers who use these cards are exempt from the following charges: loan charges on audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs, language courses, overdue and rehire charges, request charges
  • Young Adult and Children - Children under the age of 17 do not pay request or overdue charges on books or CDs and cassettes
Service Charge
Replacement Library Card £1.45
Reservations (from 22 April 2026)* £1.15
Photocopying - Black and white

25p per A4 copy

65p per A3 copy
Photocopying - Colour

£1.60 per A4 copy

£2.60 per A3 copy
Printing - Black and white

25p per A4 sheet

65p per A3 sheet
Printing - Colour

£1.60 per A4 sheet

£2.60 per A3 sheet

* Please see FAQs for further information

Please note:

If you accrue more than £10 in unpaid charges on your account, your card will be blocked. You won't be able to use your card in a library or online until the amount has been paid off

Lost and damaged items:

Essex Library Service will charge for any lost or damaged items

Other services:

We also offer the following services: room hire, public computers and Wi-Fi access, music scores any playsets

 

For full details of all our services, please ask a member of our staff