Loans/Fines/Fees

It is your responsibility to know the date your items are due. You can learn the due dates of your items:

• At Checkout: You will be notified of the due dates of your items when you check them out.
• Online: My Account lists the items that are checked out to you and the dates they are due.
• At Your Library: Ask a library staff member to look up your due dates.

eBooks and eAudiobooks are returned automatically at the end of their loan periods.

You can receive courtesy reminders and overdue notices by:

• Email: If an email address is listed on your account, you will receive an email reminder three days before your items are due. If items are overdue, you will receive email notices about those items.
• Phone: If an email address is NOT listed on your account, you will receive two automated calls notifying you about overdue items. A third and final overdue notice will be sent by mail.
• SMS/Text: You can sign up to receive due date reminders and overdue notices by text (data costs may apply). Ask at your library to learn more.

Check your messages for these courtesy notices so that late fees do not accrue. Not receiving due date receipts or courtesy notices does not excuse late fines.

Items are considered long overdue at 14 days, 35 days, or 60 days after the due date, depending on the type of item. After the third/final notice is sent regarding a long overdue item, the item is considered lost.

When an item is considered lost:

• The account is charged for the cost of the item and a $5 non-refundable processing fee (processing fees billed before April 1, 2018, are $10).
• The account is barred from checking out any further materials (including digital checkouts via Libby and Hoopla) until the account is settled.
• For unresolved accounts of $25 or more, an additional non-negotiable $10 referral fee will be charged.

If you believe a borrowed item has been damaged, bring it to the library for staff to evaluate. If you return an item and are notified that it is considered damaged, the item may be held by the library until you contact us, for up to 90 days after the notification date. During this time, the damaged item is still considered checked out by you and is subject to overdue fines. These fines accrue until the cost of the item and $5 processing fee are billed.

Sometimes you may have the option of replacing the item/s with a new and exact replacement. Replacement is not always possible because some books are out of print, are a certain edition, or have special bindings. Replacements are also not accepted for accounts in barred or collections status.

Consult with a library staff member before purchasing a replacement. Replacements must be approved by a librarian to ensure they can be accepted.

• Replacements must be new (not used). DVDs must be sealed and wrapped. Note that books purchased on the Internet are often used copies which cannot be accepted.
• Replacements must match the ISBN (International Standard Book Number). The librarian can give you this number to make sure you obtain the exact replacement copy. Similar items cannot be accepted.

A non-refundable $5 processing fee is required when replacing an item.

Based on HPCL Policies & Procedures Manual, Policies 4.2 & 4.3, revised: 3/7/2016