Borrowing Info

Most materials can be renewed up to three times. If no one else has reserved the item, the item will automatically renew 2 days before the due date. Sign up for email notifications to be alerted when your items are automatically renewed. Items are only eligible for renewal if no one else has placed a hold.

Sometimes items cannot be renewed. Here are some common reasons why:

• Another patron has placed a hold request on the item
• Charges on the borrower account are $10.00 or more
• There are 25 or more overdue items on the account
• There is a balance due on a Lost/Replacement item
• The item is a Lucky Day item (7 day popular titles or membership cards) with no renewals

Renewals are for an additional 21 day period from the date of the renewal.

You are able to place holds on most of the items in the catalog, with the exception of items that are for in-Library use only. Placing a hold on an item will hold an item for you when it is returned or will transfer an item from one library to another for you to pick up.

You may place holds for items listed in the catalog in person at any Library location, by calling the Library, or through the Library Catalog, using your Library barcode number and your PIN. You may have a maximum of 30 active, pending, or shipped hold requests on your card at a time.

You will be notified by email or text, whichever method you selected when registering for a library card, when an item is held for you. You have 7 days to pick up the item.

Need help placing a hold request or have questions about the status of your item? Contact us.

The Santa Barbara Public Library encourages library patrons to return items on time so that others may use them. We do not charge late fees, but we still charge for lost or damaged materials.

As a courtesy, the Library will email a reminder 2 days before the date due.

What happens when your items are:

• 3 Days Past Due
  • SBPL sends a courtesy reminder
• 10 Days Past Due
  • SBPL sends a second reminder
• 17 Days Past Due
  • SBPL sends a third and final reminder
• 30 Days Past Due
  • SBPL places a charge on your account for the replacement cost of the item
• 60 Days Past Due
  • The replacement cost is final
• 63 Days Past Due and have accrued 
  •  The Library forwards your account to a materials recovery agency
  • A non-refundable $10 service charge is added to your account.
  • The recovery agency contacts you to request materials return and/or payment.