Access to Materials
Chapter 3.02
To encourage the responsible use and timely return of County-owned property, Alameda County Library bills members for damaged and unreturned items. We do not charge overdue fines.
Members will be billed the cover price of any item not returned in good condition by 21 days after the due date. If an item does not have a cover price, the member will be billed the price listed on the item’s library catalog record.
- All bills remain on the member’s account until paid. No interest is ever charged.
- Bills are not reported to collection agencies and will not affect a credit score.
- Borrowing privileges are suspended if the member’s account has an unpaid bill for a damaged or unreturned item.
Example: All items check out for 21 days. A member borrows a book with a cover price of $17. The chart below indicates the amount the member would owe based on the amount of time the book is kept.
| How long the item is kept | Amount owed |
|---|---|
| Returned 15 days after checkout or renewal – this is early! | $0 |
| Returned 21 days after checkout or renewal – on the due date | $0 |
| 42 days after checkout or renewal – the member is billed for the cost of the item and may not borrow again until the item is returned or the bill is paid. |
|
| Returned 45 days after checkout or renewal – 24 days late |
|
| Returned 365 days after checkout or renewal – it was under the bed for a year! |
|
| Never returned, or seriously damaged |
|
| Exception to this Rule | |
| Tech It Out Laptops |
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