Borrowing Information

• Customers 13 years or older are eligible to borrow DVDs. We rely on parents or legal guardians to monitor minors’ borrowing and viewing of DVDs. 

• Materials renew three days before their due date, if not requested by another customer. 

• An item may be renewed twice unless another borrower has reserved it or your account has an unpaid balance of $25 or more in fees or fines for any item. 

• Books and most other materials may be returned to any public library in Maryland. 

• If you are looking for a popular title, it is possible that all copies will already be on loan to other customers. In that case, your name can be placed on a “hold/reserve” list so that when copies are returned, one will be held for you at your local branch. 

• Items can be reserved in the catalog or at your local branch. You may reserve up to 99 items. 

• If we have your email address on record, we will notify you by email at no charge (you may also choose to receive your notice via phone message or U.S. mail). You may add an email address to your record by logging into your online account or calling your local branch.

Book drops are located at each branch and are open 24 hours. If a book drop is jammed or full, please do not force the materials into it or leave them unattended. You will not be charged fines if you return the materials to the Customer Service & Research Desk as soon as possible and inform staff of the problem. You will be charged $5 for each item left outside book drops or by the doors of HCLS buildings. 

• HCLS is fine-free, with the exception of daily fines for the Library of Things. 

• No fines are charged on days HCLS is closed. 

• If you owe $25 or more in fees or fines, you cannot borrow or renew materials until the fees or fines have been cleared from your account. 

• Materials are to be returned in the condition in which they were borrowed. The full replacement cost and a processing fee will be charged for each item lost, damaged, or stolen.

• Using the catalog and finding items

• Keeping track of items

• Borrowing from other Libraries

• Suggest an addition to the collection
• One-on-one help form