Borrowing Books and Other Materials
The Orange County Public Library circulates books, audio books, movies, music CDs and magazines. Anyone with a valid Orange County, Caswell County, or Person County library card can borrow library materials.
How long can I borrow these items?
- Books and magazines check out for 3 weeks.
- Literacy Bags check out for 3 weeks.
- Audio books and music CDs check out for 3 weeks.
- Movies check out for 3 days.
Please Note: The loan period for books and audiobooks borrowed from the Carrboro Branch is 2 weeks.
Are there limits on how many items I can borrow?
Customers can borrow up to 25 items at one time. In addition, there are special limits for the following materials:
- 8 audiobooks
- 3 DVDs
- 3 books per subject, due to student demand
Please Note: There are additional limits at the Carrboro Branch on how many school-owned items may be borrowed at once.
What if I need to keep an item past the original due date?
Most borrowed items can be renewed up to two times, as long as another customer has not requested them. Literacy Bags can be renewed one time, as long as another customer has not requested that particular theme.
You can renew items:
- in person at any library location.
- by calling any library location during business hours.
- through Your Account online.
Where can I return the materials that I borrow?
Except for Carrboro Branch items, library materials can be returned to any Orange County Public Library location, no matter where you originally checked them out. Materials checked out from the Carrboro Branch Library, located in McDougle Middle School, should be returned to that branch.
What if I return borrowed materials after the due date?
Overdue fines:
| Material Type | Fine per Day |
Maximum Fine per Item |
|---|---|---|
| Adult books, magazines, audiobooks, and music CDs | $0.20 |
$5.00 |
| Young adult books, magazines, audiobooks, and music CDs | $0.20 |
$5.00 |
| Children's books, magazines, audiobooks, and music CDs* | $0.10 |
$2.00 |
| Literacy bags | $1.00 |
$5.00 |
| Movies | $1.00 |
$5.00 |
*Fines for children's books, magazines, audiobooks, and music CDs borrowed from the Carrboro Branch are $0.20 per day.
What if I loose or damage library materials?
Patrons must pay for any materials lost or damaged beyond use. The replacement cost is the item’s list price plus a $5.00 service charge. If an item is out-of-print or a price is unavailable, a default replacement cost will be used. It is based on average costs of materials.
Can I request books?
If the book you want to borrow is not currently available at your library location, you can request that the book be held for you at your preferred library location. Requests can be placed through the online catalog or in person at any library location. Carrboro Branch customers can request items through the McDougle Media Center and Carrboro Branch Library catalog.
If you would like to borrow a book not owned by any Hyconeechee Regional Library, you can place an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) request to borrow books from libraries outside our regional system. ILL requests may be placed in person at any Orange County Public library, and a processing fee of $1 must be paid at the time the request is placed.