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Library charges

We charge for some library services. This includes fines for overdue books, book reservations and hiring audio-visual items.

You may not be able to use some library services if you have:

  • more than £6 in outstanding charges

  • charges that are more than one month old

Some people are exempt from charges. This includes:

  • people who consider themselves to have a disability (including dementia)

  • people with a learning disability

  • people who are registered deaf, blind or partially sighted

  • people who consider themselves to have a long-term health condition

  • looked-after children and care leavers up to age 25 who are in the care of the local authority

We review charge exemptions each year.

You can pay by card at libraries with self-service machines. You can also pay online through your library account.

Loans and reservations

Book reservations (items held in Lancashire libraries)

  • 90p per item

  • Free for eBook reservations

  • Loyalty card: reserve 5 books and get the 6th free (standard charge only)

Exemptions

  • people under 18

  • people with a disability or long-term health condition (including dementia), a learning disability, or who are registered deaf, blind or partially sighted

  • looked-after children and care leavers up to age 25 in local authority care

  • books reserved or borrowed from a mobile library

Book reservations (inter-library loan)

  • £5 (non-refundable)

Book reservations from the British Library

  • £18.85 (we will contact you before processing)

Audio-visual reservations

Includes music CDs, DVDs, spoken‑word recordings (cassettes, CDs and Playaway audiobooks) and language sets.

  • Free

Loans and overdue charges

Book loans

  • Free to borrow

  • 35p per day overdue fine per book

  • Maximum fine: £8.25 per book

  • Exception: no overdue charges for books borrowed from a mobile library

Exemptions

  • people under 18

  • looked-after children and care leavers up to age 25 in local authority care

DVD loans

  • £1.10 per week

  • Loyalty card: every 6th DVD/CD loan is free

  • Re-hire charge: 18p per day if overdue

Exemptions

  • people who cannot read or use books because of visual or physical impairment, deafness/hard of hearing, dyslexia or a learning disability

“U” classification DVDs

  • 70p per week

  • Re-hire charge: 11p per day if overdue

Exemptions

  • people who cannot read or use books because of visual or physical impairment, deafness/hard of hearing, dyslexia or a learning disability

Music CDs

  • 70p per week

  • Re-hire charge: 11p per day if overdue

Exemptions

  • people who cannot read or use books because of visual or physical impairment, deafness/hard of hearing, dyslexia or a learning disability

Spoken-word recordings (cassettes, CDs, Playaway audiobooks)

  • £1.10 per 3-week loan

  • Overdue charge: 30p per day per item

Exemptions

  • people under 18

  • looked-after children and care leavers up to age 25 in local authority care

  • people unable to use books due to visual or physical impairment, deafness/hard of hearing, dyslexia or a learning disability

Language sets

  • £1 per 3-week loan

  • Re-hire charge: 5p per day if overdue

Music and drama performance sets

Charges are listed on the music and drama collections page.

Printing and photocopying

Charges

  • A4 black and white: 25p per page

  • A4 colour: 70p per page

  • A3 black and white: 45p per page

  • A3 colour: £1.40 per page

  • Microfiche and microfilm prints: 40p per page

Recycled paper is used as standard.

Free printing for young people

Young people under 18 can get up to 10 black-and-white pages per visit free for homework or home‑schooling. Colour pages are included within the 10‑page limit.

Prints must be collected by the young person — not by a parent or carer.

Lost or damaged items

If an item is lost or damaged beyond repair, a compensation charge will be applied.

Library Elf

Library Elf is a free third‑party service that helps you manage loans and reservations.

To use it, you’ll need to register with Library Elf your email address and your library card number.

Library Elf can:

  • send email alerts before items are due back

  • remind you about overdue items

  • notify you when reserved items are ready to collect

  • help you manage your family’s library cards in one account

Using Library Elf can help you avoid overdue charges.