Library Services

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Library Cards & Borrowing

1Library Card Registration  top↑

  • Your library card is free. There is a charge of $1.00 to replace a lost card.
  • Here are the registration requirements depending upon your parish residency status and age.
  • For residents of East Baton Rouge Parish:
    • A picture ID, such as a driver's license, school ID, military ID or passport.
    • Proof of address, such as a driver's license, voter registrations, or mail that has been received at the patron's residence.
    • Note that the Library will not accept mail received at a U.S. mailbox or commercial mail drop box as proof of residency in East Baton Rouge Parish.
    • Cards expire at the end of three years. Cardholders must pay any unpaid balance and provide photo ID and proof of current address in order to extend the card for another three years.
  • For owners of property, but non-residents of East Baton Rouge Parish:
    • A picture ID, such as a driver's license, school ID, military ID or passport.
    • Proof of address, such as a driver's license, voter registrations, or mail that has been received at the patron's residence.
    • Proof of ownership of property in East Baton Rouge Parish, such as a Baton Rouge Parish tax notice or receipt for payment of property tax in East Baton Rouge Parish.
    • Cards expire at the end of three years. Cardholders must pay any unpaid balance and provide photo ID and proof of current address in order to extend the card for another three years.
  • Out-of-parish residents in neighboring parishes (reciprocal only):
    • A picture ID, such as a driver's license, school ID, military ID or passport.
    • Proof of address, such as a driver's license, voter registrations, or mail that has been received at the patron's residence.
    • A signed authorization slip from their parish librarian.
    • Cards expire at the end of one year. Cardholders must pay any unpaid balance and provide photo ID and proof of current address in order to extend the card for another year.
  • For children, 11 years old or younger:
    • Parent or guardian must co-sign the registration form with the child.
    • Picture ID for parent or guardian, such as a driver's license, school ID, military ID or passport.
    • Proof of address for parent or guardian, such as a driver's license, voter registrations, or mail that has been received at the patron's residence.
    • Note: The parent or guardian is responsible for the use of the child's card: any fines, damages or lost items must be paid.
    • Cards expire at the end of three years. The child’s parent must pay any unpaid balance and provide photo ID and proof of current address in order to extend the card for another three years.
  • For children, 11 years old or younger who live out-of parish:
    • Parent or guardian must co-sign the registration form with the child.
    • Picture ID for parent or guardian, such as a driver's license, school ID, military ID or passport.
    • Proof of address for parent or guardian, such as a driver's license, voter registrations, or mail that has been received at the patron's residence.
    • A signed authorization slip from their parish librarian.
    • Note: The parent or guardian is responsible for the use of the child's card; any fines, damages or lost items must be paid.
    • Cards expire at the end of one year. The child’s parent must pay any unpaid balance and provide photo ID and proof of current address in order to extend the card for another year.
  • For students (college or high school) who live on campus but have permanent residence outside East Baton Rouge Parish:
    • Proof of current enrollment
    • Picture ID as described above, such as a driver's license, school ID, military ID or passport.
    • Proof of permanent home address and/or local mailing address, such as a driver's license, voter registrations, or mail that has been received at the patron's residence.
    • Note: A college or high school student who lives in a reciprocal parish must have an authorization form filled out by his/her parish librarian.
  • Temporary Online cards:
    • First and Last Name
    • Valid email address to confirm the card account
    • Birth Date
    1. Online cards may be used to access digital content and to place holds in the catalog.
    2. Online cards are incomplete and only good for 2 months.
    3. To complete the registration process and receive a permanent library card, please visit the nearest library and bring the following requirements: A picture ID, such as a driver's license, school ID, military ID or passport. Proof of address, such as a driver's license, voter registrations, or mail that has been received at the patron's residence. Note that the Library will not accept mail received at a U.S. mailbox or commercial mail drop box as proof of residency in East Baton Rouge Parish.

    Please see our Temporary Online Card Help Guide

  • Click here to Register for a Temporary Online Card

2Loan & Renewal Periods  top↑

  • Books, magazines, audio books, CD-ROMS, books on CD and music CDs check out for 3 weeks and may be renewed 3 times for a maximum loan period of 12 weeks. A total of fifty items may be checked out per card. There is no specific limit on the number of books and magazines.
  • The limit on audio books is 10.  The limit on music CDs is 10.  The limit on CD-ROMS is 5.
  • Videos, DVDs and Blu-ray check out for one week and may be renewed twice for a maximum loan period of 3 weeks.
  • The limit is 15 items for all video formats; any combination of DVD, VHS or Blu-Ray.
  • Paintings and sculptures check out for 6 weeks and may be renewed once.
  • The telescope is available for adult check-out, for a week at-a-time, at the Main Library and must be returned to the Main Library.
    Prior to being eligible to check the telescope out, Library Card Holders must attend a brief presentation on how to use and care for the telescope.
  • Items are renewed from the date of renewal -- not the original due date.
  • An item may not be renewed if another patron has an open reservation for that title.
  • CLICK HERE TO RENEW YOUR ITEMS

3Fines & Other Charges  top↑

  • Videos, DVDs and Blu-ray are $.50 per item, per day overdue, per checkout/renewal with a maximum fine of $5.00 per item, per checkout/renewal.
  • All other items are $.05 per item, per day overdue, per checkout/renewal with a maximum fine of $3.00 per checkout/renewal.
  • A first overdue notice is sent by email when an item is overdue, only if the patron has an email address in their patron record.
  • Another notice is emailed or mailed when an item is 10 days overdue.
  • A bill notice is sent on the 60th overdue day, requesting payment for the cost of the item plus a $5.00 processing fee.
  • On or near the 70th overdue day, a Collection Notice is sent in the patron's name to the Parish Attorney's Office for accounts totaling $25 or more. The Parish Attorney's Office then sends a letter to the patron requesting payment within 5 days.
  • Items that are returned after their due date but before the 10th overdue day accrue fines, but no notice is sent to the patron. Patrons are encouraged to ask staff to check their accounts or to access their accounts online themselves to determine if any such charges are due.
  • If you receive an overdue notice for an item that you believe you have returned to the Library, please contact the Library as soon as possible. We would expect to find such an item on our shelves if we failed to properly scan it when it was returned. If we cannot locate the item on our shelves, we must place the item in a status called Claims Returned. An item in Claims Returned status:
    • No longer appears as a loan on your account
    • Is searched for at all branches of the Library bi-monthly
    • Will be checked in as if returned on its due date if found during a search
    • Will no longer be tied to your account if borrowed by another patron
    If an item still has Claims Returned status at the end of six months, the Library will send you an invoice for the replacement cost of the item plus the maximum overdue fine. We encourage you to continue to search for an item that you have reported returned and that we have placed in Claims Returned status.
  • If a patron's card is lost or stolen, there is a $1.00 charge for a replacement card.
  • Additional information on overdue items and other charges.

  • Payments on a patron's record can be made at any time at any branch.
  • If charges reach $25.00 at any time the record is set to "Delinquent" until the balance is below $25.00.
  • All charges on a patron's record are due by the card's expiration date. The record must be cleared before the card is updated.
  • Lost or damaged items may be replaced with an exact copy of the item in lieu of payment for the item. Always speak to a librarian in the system before attempting to replace an item.
  • When items are damaged, but still in condition to continue to circulate, charges are assessed accordingly. A missing pocket or barcode is $.50. The cost of rebinding is $5.00. Marks on pages such as ink, marker or crayon are charged at $.50 per page. For other charges, contact the Circulation Division at the Main Library.
  • The cost of an item is charged to a patron when the damage requires the item to be removed from the collection.

4Patron Responsibilities  top↑

  • Abide by library policies and procedures.
  • Children 8 and under must be accompanied by a responsible person -- an adult or mature adolescent.
  • Accept responsibility for all use of your library card.
  • Be responsible, as a parent, for the use of your child's card.
  • Bring your library card when you visit the library. You must have your card in order to check out.
  • Notify the Circulation Division of change of name, address or phone number.
  • Pay all fines and fees incurred on your library card.
  • Any damage to items while checked out on a card is the responsibility of the cardholder.
  • Rules of Behavior for Patrons
  • Patron Use of Library Computers