Facilities charges and loan charges
Overdue charges and exemptions
Overdue charges
If items are not returned or renewed by their due date they will incur overdue charges. You can find your item due dates by accessing your library account or by printing a receipt from a self-service machine at a library. If you are having trouble renewing your items, contact us to renew your items online. If you accrue more than £10 in overdue charges, hire charges or other charges to your card, it will be automatically blocked. You won't be able to use your card in a library or online until the amount has been paid off.
For books and audio books the following charges apply:
- £0.26 for each day in the first week the library you borrowed the item from is open and £1.76 per week or part of week after that. These charges are capped at a maximum of £9.00 per item.
CDs, DVDS and language courses are subject to a rehire charge when overdue:
- Music CDs are charged at £1.35 per week with a maximum charge of £4.40 per item.
- DVDs are charged at £2.55 per week with a maximum charge of £6.00 per item.
- Language courses with a single CD are charged at £1.30 for three weeks with maximum charge of £4.40 per item.
- Language courses with multiple CDs are charged at £4.58 for six weeks with a maximum charge of £15.20.
Lost and damaged items
The full replacement cost will be charged for any item which has been either lost or damaged.
Items loanable for one week at a time are automatically considered lost if they become 35 days overdue. All other items are automatically considered lost if they become 49 days overdue. At this point, the prospective cost of replacing the item is automatically charged to your account. This charge will be removed again from your account if you return or renew the item, at which point only any overdue charges will be payable.
There is a charge of £1.35 for replacing lost or damaged library cards. You will need to go to an Essex library to get a replacement card or to reactivate your account. View our library locations and opening times to plan your visit. You must bring identification with your name and address on it such as a driving licence, bank statement or recent utility bill.
How to pay
We are currently accepting card payment through the self-service machines and online.
You can make an online payment by logging in to your library account on the library catalogue. Please note that you will need to use the desktop site to make a payment.
Exceptions
The following groups are exempt from certain library and overdue charges:
Disabled people
If you are unable to read print due to visual impairment, physical impairment or a learning disability you do not have to pay any charges on the following items if you have an Access card:
- audio books
- music CDs
- DVDs
- language courses
Charges are made for overdue books and damaged items.
Home Library Service, Friends and Family card, Memory Support card
If you use the Home Library Service, a Friends and Family card, or a Memory Support card, you are exempt from the following charges:
- loan charges on audio books
- music CDs
- DVDs
- language courses
- overdue and rehire charges
- request charges
Children and young adults
Children under the age of 17 do not pay request or overdue charges on the following items:
- books
- CDs and cassettes
Hire charges for books, CDs and DVDs
Books and e-books
Borrow for three weeks: Free
Request charges
Charges are as follows:
- requests that you place yourself via the library catalogue - Free
- requests made through library staff - £1.15
- requests using the online request form (use this form if you have been unable to find a book, spoken word CD, music CD or DVD by searching the library catalogue) - £1.15
Children, young adults, Home Library service users and Access library card holders are exempt from these charges.
Audio books
- 1 to 3 CDs or cassettes - £1.30 for 3 weeks
- 4 or more CDs or cassettes - £2.65 for 3 weeks
- Children’s audio books - £1.35 for 3 weeks
- e-audio - free
- Music CDs - £1.35 for 1 week
DVDs
- £2.55 per item, per week
Language courses
Language courses are available at the following rates:
- single CD for 3 weeks - £1.30
- multiple CDs for 6 weeks - £4.58
- Online language courses - free
How to pay
We are currently accepting card payment through the self-service machines and online.
You can make an online payment by logging in to your account on the library catalogue. Please note that you will need to use the desktop site to make a payment.
Photocopying and printing
Photocopying
Black and white
- Up to 49 A4 copies - 20p per copy
- Up to 49 A3 copies - 60p per copy
- 50 copies or over (A4 or A3) - 5p per copy
Colour photocopying
- A4 - £1.50 per copy
- A3 - £2.45 per copy
Printing
Computer printouts
- Black and white (per A4 side) - 20p
- Black and white (per A3 side*) - 60p
- Colour (per A4 side) - £1.50
- Colour (per A3 side*) - £2.45
*Please note A3 printing is available at certain libraries only.
How to pay
We are currently accepting card payment through the self-service machines and online.
You can make an online payment by logging in to your account on the library catalogue. Please note that you will need to use the desktop site to make a payment.