Borrowing Items

Borrowing and Returning Items

Middlesex County Library cardholders can borrow items from any Middlesex County Library location. 

Items can be returned to any location, regardless of where they were borrowed. As a courtesy, we ask that hotspots, park passes, kits and board games be returned at the location they were borrowed whenever possible.

Items can be returned to exterior drop boxes and returns slots at anytime (with the exception of kits and board games that do not fit into the slots).

Holds and Renewals

Eligible items without holds will be renewed automatically 3 days before their due date.  Most items will autorenew twice; board games and hotspots will autorenew once. They can also be renewed earlier in the loan period using your online account, when visiting a library, or by phoning a library.

Items with holds cannot be renewed and will not renew automatically. You can check if an item has a hold by using your online account, when visiting a library, or by phoning a library.

When a held item is available for pickup, you will be notified by email, or by phone if no email address has been provided. After you are notified, the item will be held for 5 open days at the pick-up location.  After 5 days, the hold will be cancelled and the item will be made available for the next patron. 

Overdue and Lost items

Patrons are notified of overdue items by email or by phone if no email address has been provided. 

Middlesex County Library is fine free, no overdue fines will be charged. Items are still subject to replacement fees if lost or damaged.

An item is considered lost once it is 10 days overdue and a bill will be issued outlining replacement fees. These fees will be removed from your account if the item is returned.

Items returned with obvious damage, beyond normal wear and tear, will be billed for replacement at the discretion of library staff.  Once you've paid the replacement fee, the damaged item is yours to keep. 

The replacement fee for most items is the library's cost, plus a $5.00 processing fee.  

If your card has charges totalling $50.00 or more, your card will be blocked.  You will be unable to check-out additional items and access to digital collections will be blocked. 

Fees can be paid in branch using cash or cheque (cheques must be made out to Middlesex County Library), or they can be paid online by logging into your account. 

Loan Periods and Fees