At Your Library
Borrowing Basics

Borrowing from the Library

Your membership card unlocks access to books, technology, kits, and more. Here's everything you need to know about borrowing, renewing and returning items with your RHPL membership. 

Not a member? It's free to join RHPL if you live, work or go to school in York Region. Learn how you can get your membership.

We're a fine free library.

Did you know? RHPL is a fine-free library, which means that we don't collect fines for overdue items.

We strive to be a welcoming place for all to connect, learn, grow and thrive. Fines can create a significant financial barrier to accessing many of the services we offer.

To support the circulation of our collections, other fees, like replacement costs and fees for damaged items, may still be charged to customers who haven't returned items for over four weeks. Replacement costs will be waived if items are returned in good condition. 

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Borrowing Periods, Renewals, and Holds

Placing Holds

In order to place a hold, you simply need to ensure your membership is in good standing and visit a location, call 905-884-9288, or log in to ‘My Library’. You will be notified when your item is available for pick up. Please bring the library card that the hold was placed against when checking out the item. Items with holds cannot be renewed

How long can I keep my borrowed items? 

There's so much to explore with your RHPL membership. Our lendable items have different borrowing periods that are based on the needs of our community. 

Books and Other Print Material

  • Books: three-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed up to 10 times. 

  • Express Books: one-week loan period; no holds or renewals.

  • Magazines: three-week loan period; no holds; can be renewed up to 2 times. 

  • Book Club Kits: eight-week loan period; items can be placed on hold by contacting our team; no renewals.

  • Visiting Library Service: eight-week loan period; items can be renewed up to two times.

Games, DVDs, CDs and AudioBooks 

  • Audiobooks: three-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed up to 10 times. 

  • CDs: three-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed up to 2 times.

  • DVDs (TV and movies): one-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed up to 2 times.

  • Non-fiction DVDs: three-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed up to 10 times. 

  • Children DVDs: one-week loan period; items can placed on hold and renewed up to 2 times.

  • Video Games: two-week loan period; items can placed on hold and renewed up to 2 times.

Technology

  • Hotspots: three-week loan period; items can placed on hold and renewed 1 time.

  • iPads: three-hour loan period; in-branch use only; no holds

  • Chromebooks: three-hour loan period; in-branch use only; no holds

Library of Things

  • Birdwatching Kits/Nature Explorer Kits: two-week loan period; no holds or renewals.

  • Experience Passes: one-week loan period; items can be placed on hold; no renewals. Each Experience Pass may be borrowed once every three months. 

  • Express Experience Passes: one-week loan period; no holds or renewals. Each Express Experience Pass may be borrowed once every three months. 

  • Gardening Items: two-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time.

  • Hobbies and Crafting Items: two-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time.

  • Hotspots: three-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time.

  • Kitchen Items: two-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time. 

  • Learning Kits: three-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed up to 10 times.

  • Outdoor Items: two-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time.

  • Sports and Recreation Items: two-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time.

  • STEAM Kits: one-week loan period; items can be placed on hold; no renewals.

  • Technology Items: two-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time (except for hotspots, which have a three-week loan period).

  • Tools and Small Appliance Items: two-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time.

  • Video Game Consoles: two-week loan period; no holds; items can be renewed 1 time.

  • Yoto Players: two-week loan period; items can be placed on hold and renewed 1 time.

Renewing Items

Renewing an item is easy and can be done online, in person, or over the phone. If an item has holds on it, if you have a large amount of fines on your account, or if your membership is expired or close to expiring, you may not be able to renew items that you've checked out. 

  • Online: Access My Account to renew your items online, or download the MyRHPL app. 

  • Over the phone: Connect with a team member by calling 905-884-9288 during Central Branch bours 

  • In person: Visit your nearest RHPL branch during opening hours. 

How to Return Items

Physical materials like books and DVDs can be returned to any Richmond Hill Public Library branch. Some lendable items like STEAM kits and wireless hotspots must be returned at a service desk during branch hours, while others can be returned through drop boxes, which are available 24/7 outside of all RHPL locations. If they aren't renewed, digital items like eBooks and Audiobooks are returned automatically. 

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