BPL no longer charges daily overdue fines but we do charge fees for items that are lost, damaged, or overdue for 30 days or longer. Read about our fees and charges.

• BPL no longer charges daily overdue fines but we do charge fees for items that are lost, damaged, or overdue for 30 days or longer.
• Most library items may be borrowed for 21 days including: DVD, CD, eBook reader (eReader), iPad mini, book-on-CD, Launchpad, magazines.
• Hot Picks new, trending, and popular books & DVDs and high demand items: 14-day loan if there are holds on the item.
• Lucky Express book & DVD collection: 7-day loan; no holds or renewals.  
• Print magazines: 7-day loan
• Video games: 7-day loan
• Book Club kit: 60-day loan, not renewable

At any one time, you may have up to 75 physical items on loan from the library and 100 items placed on hold. Certain borrowing restrictions apply:

• One eReader is allowed on a card at one time.
• Mature (M) video games (for persons ages 17 and older) and restricted DVDs can only be borrowed on an adult card.

Most print and audiovisual items may be renewed up to 10 times, that is, for 21 days from the date of renewal and then again for another 21 day loan period, and so on. There are 3 handy ways to renew library items:

1. Online through your My BPL library account
2. In person at any branch or give us a call during open hours;
3. Call our Touch-Tone Telephone Renewal Service: Call 905.333.3701 and have your library card and the item(s) you wish to renew within reach. If you have more than five items to renew, please call the library during open hours at 905.639.3611 and a staff member will help you.

Some items cannot be renewed: items with outstanding holds, EXPRESS collection, and seasonal items

We expect library members to return items on time and in good condition. There is no daily overdue fine charge for items returned after their due date, but we count on you to borrow responsibly as a courtesy to others and the Library. In place of a fine penalty, you can choose to Pay It Forward with a voluntary contribution to the library. BPL will continue to charge replacement fees for lost or damaged items.

When it’s time to bring borrowed items back, you can return them to any BPL location; 24-hour drop boxes are located at all branches. If you return an item from another public library to BPL by mistake, we will contact that library system to let them know, but we will not return the item for you. eReaders must be returned in person to a check-out desk, not in a library drop box. Automated notifications are sent by email or telephone, if requested. Overdue reminders stop after 21 days. An item is considered lost when it is 30 days overdue, and your account will be billed a non-refundable replacement fee and blocked from borrowing physical items.

• eReaders must be returned in person to a check-out desk, not in a library drop box.
• Automated notifications are sent by email or telephone, if requested.
• Overdue reminders stop after 21 days. An item is considered lost when it is 30 days overdue, and your account will be billed a non-refundable replacement fee and blocked from borrowing physical items.

If an item you want to borrow is currently not available, you can reserve it by placing a hold. Using our online catalogue or by phoning us, you can place a hold on any item in the library’s collection, including those On Order, except for:

• Luck Express books and DVDs
• popular or bestselling items that have not yet been released or published. The Library automatically acquires new, popular, and bestselling items in all available formats, so please do not submit requests for these titles. Please wait until the items are On Order in our catalogue and then place your hold.
• In Library Use Only items
• Items belonging to Kilbride School or Hayden Secondary School.

Customers with reciprocal borrowing privileges may borrow a total of eight items and place two holds.

Holds Notification

When your hold item becomes available, you will be notified by telephone or email.

• Holds notice by email: If you have given us permission to do so, the library will email a due date reminder two days before your items are due, and overdue notices.

• Holds notice by telephone: Our automated telephone notification system will call you to let you know that your hold item is ready for pick-up and at what location.

• If you do not pick up your hold by the expiry date, unfortunately there is no record kept of the hold you've missed. With email notification, do not delete your message until you pick up the item so you can keep track of your holds.

Pausing Holds

You can pause your holds through the catalogue. When you're ready to read once again, simply return your holds to active status. You cannot pause holds on items that are available on the shelf.

You can set up an online login to manage your borrowing and account information on our website. Once you set up your My BPL online account, you can place holds on and renew library items, access online resources, and keep track of your program registration.

 

You need your library card number, PIN (last four digits of your phone number), and just a few minutes to create your My BPL account. You will be asked to create a user name during the account set-up process. Please do not use your library card number as your user name. We recommend something short and easy to remember.

 

It’s useful to have access to your My BPL account so that you can keep your contact information up-to-date and receive notifications about your due dates, holds, and important updates about library services. You can also find your library card number here if you ever need it.

Our Tech Lending collection includes a wide array of items such Fitbits, Chromebooks, iPads, Digital Radon Detectors etc: Check the tech web page for loan periods and other item details.

Burlington Public Library customers enjoy borrowing privileges from neighbouring library systems in Halton Region, which allows you to borrow physical items from Oakville, Milton, and Halton Hills public libraries. If you cannot find the library item you want in Burlington, please visit the online catalogues of these libraries to see if they have it their collection. Once you have registered your BPL card number with a partner library, you can place holds and borrow directly from that system. Some borrowing restrictions may apply. Please contact the libraries for more information.

As well, BPL partners with libraries outside the Region to give our members access to a wide range of materials to read, listen to, and watch—through our partnership with Hamilton Public Library and digital partnerships with Mississauga, Hamilton, London, Ottawa, and Kingston Frontenac.

With your Burlington Public Library card, you now have full borrowing privileges at Hamilton Public Library, except for online resources other than our shared OverDrive/Libby digital collections and interlibrary loan. If you'd like to borrow physical items from Hamilton Public Library, please visit any HPL branch in person with your BPL card and photo ID with your current address. HPL will create an account for you.

When borrowing from another library system, please remember to return the item to the system that owns it; BPL will not return items on your behalf.

Check out your library items at a quick & easy check-out kiosk. Just stack your books, scan your card, and be on your way. Common touch points are cleaned regularly. Plus – skip the paper! Select 'email receipt' for a no-fuss way to keep track of your due dates. Be sure to first select 'Email' in your My BPL account under My Settings > Account info > Contact preference.