Library Cards
To check out materials, each library customer must have a valid library card. There is no charge for the initial library card for any resident of California. There is a fee for replacing a lost, stolen, or damaged card. Library cards are non-transferable. Fees are established within the City of Santa Clarita Fee Schedule. Library cards must be presented at the time of service, but as a one-time courtesy, identification may be presented to access account information without presenting a Library card.
Each Library cardholder may have up to 50 items checked out at a time. The following item checkout limitation exists for each card.
- Printed Materials (books and magazines): 50 per card
- DVD’s & Blu-Rays: 10 per card, not to exceed 50 total items
- Audiobooks: 10 per card, not to exceed 50 total items
- Kit Materials: 50 per card
Loan Periods and Number of Renewals Allowed
- Reference Materials: Reference materials do not circulate
- Adult and Juvenile Books: 21 days; 3 renewals
- Sound Recordings: 21 days; 3 renewals
- Kit Materials: 21 days; 3 renewals
- DVDs: 7 days; 3 renewals
- Magazines: 7 days; 3 renewals
Holds
If an item is not available or is located at another library, a customer can place a hold on it. When available, it will be delivered to the Santa Clarita Public Library location of the customer’s choice. There is no charge for placing a hold on an item available via the Santa Clarita Public Library catalog. Some items may not be holdable. All items must be checked out on the card that placed the request.
There is a maximum of 50 holds per card. Within the 50, there are other limits for material types. Cardholders can place holds on up to 50 books and up to 15 DVDs, sound recordings, and kit materials.
Interlibrary Loans
If an item is not available to borrow from the Santa Clarita Public Library’s collection, the Library will attempt to purchase the item. If the item cannot be purchased, it can be requested via Interlibrary Loan from another library system. A nominal fee, as established in the City of Santa Clarita Fee Schedule, will be charged for Interlibrary Loans. All Interlibrary Loans are reviewed by professional staff. Loans, loaning periods, and renewals are at the discretion of the loaning institution.
Fines
Fines for overdue items checked out with an adult card or a juvenile card are established in the City of Santa Clarita Fee Schedule. Fines paid with NSF checks will be assigned a $55 fee by the City Cashier’s Office. Fines are calculated on the number of days that the Library is open. Discretion to waive Library fines rests with the City Librarian or designated representatives.
Recovering Overdue Materials
The Santa Clarita Public Library will attempt to notify the customer 3 days after the item is due, and again at 10 days after the item is due. At 30 days after the item is due, a bill notification is sent to the customer requesting that the item be returned and fines paid or the cost of the item plus a processing fee.
Lost Materials
A lost item is library material that is not returned to the Library. Items not returned within sixty days of the due date are considered lost. Items reported lost, misplaced, or missing by a customer are also considered lost. It is the responsibility of customers to return materials, or be subject to a replacement fee for the item. Any accrued overdue fines for a lost item will be cancelled when payment or replacement is completed. If a customer locates an item within 30 days of payment, the item, returned with a receipt, can receive a refund at the Library which initially accepted payment, in the original payment form.
Damaged Materials
A damaged item is an item that is not returned in the condition in which it was borrowed. Damage includes, but is not limited to: wet, stained, scratched, chipped, sticky, sandy, chewed, odiferous, missing pages, written in, or missing pieces. It is the responsibility of the customer to return items in the same condition as when the item was borrowed or be subject to a replacement fee for the item. It is the responsibility of the customer to report any existing damage at the time an item is checked out.
Claims Returned Materials
A Claims Returned item is a library material that was borrowed, then the customer claims was returned to the library. If a library customer is notified that they have not returned an item and the customer claims they have returned it, library staff will check the shelf for the item and if it is not located, may set the item to Claims Returned. A customer is only allowed to have five items with a Claims Returned/Claims Never Had status. Additional items will be marked as Lost and patrons will be responsible for the replacement.
Claims Never Had Materials
A Claims Never Had item is a library material that appears on a customer’s library account, but that they claim was never borrowed. If a library customer is notified that they have not returned an item and they claim they never borrowed the item, library staff may set the item to Claims Returned. The item will remain on the customer’s account with a Claims Returned status until the item is found. A customer is only allowed to have five items with a Claims Returned/Claims Never Had status. Additional items will be marked as Lost and patrons will be responsible for the replacement. This policy will also apply for items checked out but customer reports the case was empty.