Borrowing Materials

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The Prince George's County Memorial Library System offers access to a wide range of materials such as books, music, movies, and more. Circulating items are available for check out with a Library Card. You may place holds on circulating items and have requested materials delivered to the branch of your choice.

Date Due

• The last date stamped on the date due label is the return or due date. This is a day when the Library branch where you checked the material out is open.
• If you return materials after the due date, we charge a fine for every day late that the Library is open.
• When you return materials late and don't pay the fine, the amount owed is added to your record.
• Customers are notified by an automated phone system of overdue materials, or by email if you provide a valid email address. You can check the status of your Library card in the Library's catalog. See Your Account

Borrowing Rules

• Most print materials not on reserve or overdue are eligible for up to two renewals by calling our renewal line or via the Library's web catalog.
• The maximum number of items you may have checked out at any time is:
  • Compact Discs - 20
  • Videos/DVDs - 6
  • Print or all formats combined - 75

You will not be permitted to check out materials if you have any of the following on your record:

• $5.00 or more in outstanding fines and/or fees;
• Two (2) or more overdue items;
• Any overdue materials more than 45 days overdue.

Returning Items

• Most PGCMLS materials may be returned to any PGCMLS branch. Entertainment videos must be returned to the branch where they were borrowed.
• Book drops are available the hours when the library is closed at all branches. Please do not place video or audio materials in book drops.
• Materials borrowed on Interlibrary Loan should be returned to the branch where they were borrowed.
• Most materials checked out from PGCMLS (except video and interlibrary loan material) may be returned to any public library in the State of Maryland or to a public library in Washington DC, Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties. Materials returned to a different county will remain on a customer's record until they are checked in at the owning library.
• Generally, most material checked out from a Maryland public library may be returned to any public library in the State. Some restrictions apply; check the borrowing rules of the lending library. Materials returned to a different county will remain on a customer's record until they are checked in at the owning library.
• Generally, most material checked out from a Norther Virginia public library (Fairfax, Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington, Prince William and Loudoun Counties) may be returned to PGCMLS. Some restrictions apply; check the borrowing rules of the lending library. Materials returned to a different county will remain on a customer's record until they are checked in at the owning library.

Fees

• $30.00 charge for all returned checks.
• $10.00 for all accounts referred to collections.

Overdue Fines

Fines and fees are payable by cash or check at any branch library, or payment may be made by check or money order to the Administrative Services, c/o Public Services, 6532 Adelphi Rd., Hyattsville, MD 20782. At this time, payments may not be made by credit card.

• Adult materials: 15 cents per item per day. Maximum $5.00 per item
• Young Adult materials: 15 cents per item per day. Maximum $5.00 per item
• Children's: 5 cents per item per day. Maximum: $1.00 per item
• Videos: $1.00 per item per day Maximum: $10.00 per item

Lost Materials

• Books, recordings, audio cassettes, Compact Discs, videos, DVDs Price of Material
• Magazines -$ 5.00
• Pamphlets - $ 1.00
• Other Educational Material - $ 7.50
• Interlibrary Loan/Marina - Determined by owning system
• Book/cassette combinations
  • Whole set Price of Material
  • Book only $ 7.00
  • Cassette only $ 7.00
• Recorded Books
  • Whole set or over 50% of tapes Price of Material
  • Individual Cassette / CD $ 7.00
• Missing record/cassette booklets / instruction guides -$ 3.00
• Plastic boxes for audio cassettes/CDs - $ 1.00
• Cardboard video “checkout” cases - $ 1.00
• Original video/DVD case - $ 3.00
• Individual audio cassettes from set - $ 7.00
• Individual CD from set - $ 7.00
• Individual video or DVD from box set. - Price of Material
• Films - To be determined by the Audio-Visual Division