Loan Periods and Late Fees
The Allegheny County Library Association has increased county-wide renewals for all renewable items. In addition to increased renewals all renewals will occur automatically. Patrons will receive a courtesy message informing them that some of their items might be due soon and others might be renewed automatically.
Items that are eligible for renewal will be automatically renewed following a courtesy (due date reminder) notice is generated for the patron. Courtesy notices are only sent by email. Patrons that do not have valid email addresses in their library account will not receive a courtesy notice about their items being due or automatically renewed.
You may also receive courtesy notices by signing up for a third-party text message notification service called Shoutbomb. Patrons can sign up for this by sending a text with their barcode number and PIN to the text notification vendor (for detailed information, go to Library Catalog, click Help in the upper right corner, search for “Text Notification”).
As always, library materials are free of charge when returned on or before the due date. To avoid late fees, items must be renewed or returned by library closing time on the day they are due. The late fee threshold is $5, therefore the maximum charge you can maintain on your account and still be able to check out items is $5.
*except current display issue
*except current display issue
You can pay fines with cash or check at the circulation desk or with a credit card online using My Account. For help with paying fines online visit the catalog helpdesk website.
Items that are eligible for renewal will be automatically renewed following a courtesy (due date reminder) notice is generated for the patron. Courtesy notices are only sent by email. Patrons that do not have valid email addresses in their library account will not receive a courtesy notice about their items being due or automatically renewed.
You may also receive courtesy notices by signing up for a third-party text message notification service called Shoutbomb. Patrons can sign up for this by sending a text with their barcode number and PIN to the text notification vendor (for detailed information, go to Library Catalog, click Help in the upper right corner, search for “Text Notification”).
- Please keep in mind items have different checkout lengths. If an item, you have checked out is requested by another patron it will not automatically renew.
- Please remember all libraries have some collections that do not accept renewals.
- It is very important that patrons monitor their online accounts to verify due dates, and to avoid overdue fees.
As always, library materials are free of charge when returned on or before the due date. To avoid late fees, items must be renewed or returned by library closing time on the day they are due. The late fee threshold is $5, therefore the maximum charge you can maintain on your account and still be able to check out items is $5.
Adult and YA
| Non-Renewable Items | Checkout Period | Renewal Limit | Late Fee (per day) | Requestable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book Stop (bestsellers) | 3 Weeks | 0 | $0.25 | no |
| High Demand Non Fiction | 3 Weeks | 0 | $0.25 | no |
| Media Stop Music CDs (bestsellers) | 1 Week | 0 | $0.25 | no |
| Media Stop Video Games (bestsellers) | 1 Week | 0 | $0.25 | no |
| Media Stop Audiobooks (bestsellers) | 1 Week | 0 | $0.25 | no |
| Media Stop DVDs (bestsellers) | 1 Week | 0 | $0.25 | no |
| Board Games | 3 Weeks |
0 | $0.25 | no |
| Vinyl/Records | 3 Weeks | 0 | $0.25 | no |
| Portable Record Players | 3 Weeks | 0 | $1.00 | no |
| Renewable Items | Checkout Period |
Renewal Limit |
Late Fee (per day) |
Requestable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 |
yes |
| Large Print Books |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Oversize Books & Books with pullout material |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | no |
| Magazines | 1 Week |
6 | $0.25 | yes* |
| Audiobooks | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Playaways | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Great Courses (audiobooks & DVDs) |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| DVDs & Blu-rays |
1 Week |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| DVDs & Blu-rays over 6 hours |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Video Games | 1 Week | 6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Music CDs |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| CD ROMs |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Comic Books | 1 Week |
6 | $0.25 | no |
Children's
| Material |
Checkout Period |
Renewal Limit |
Late Fee (per day) |
Requestable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Magazines | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes* |
| CD Kits |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Story-time Kits |
3 Weeks |
0 | $1.00 | yes |
| Brainquest | 1 Week |
6 | $0.25 | no |
| Audiobooks | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Playaways | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Playaway Views |
1 Week |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| DVDs & Blu-rays |
1 Week |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| DVDs & Blu-rays over 6 hours |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| Video Games |
3 Weeks |
0 | $0.25 | no |
| Music CDs |
3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| CD ROMs | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | yes |
| eReaders | 3 Weeks |
0 | $1.00 | no |
| iPads & Launchpads | 1 Week |
0 | $1.00 | no |
| Puppets | 3 Weeks |
6 | $0.25 | no |
Paying Your Fines
You can pay fines with cash or check at the circulation desk or with a credit card online using My Account. For help with paying fines online visit the catalog helpdesk website.