Borrowing Library Materials
The Akron-Summit County Public Library is pleased to offer a wide range of materials for borrowing. Here you will find information related to borrowing library material, including information on Library cards, overdue fines, and other necessary rules.
Registering For A Library Card
Anyone living, working, or attending school in Ohio may obtain a FREE library card by registering at Main Library, a branch library, or the bookmobile. Children may obtain a library card with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. When applying for a card, we prefer to see a photo ID with current address. Since that is not always possible, we will accept a photo ID and another form of current address verification, such as a piece of mail.
Item Limits, Loan Periods, and Fines
| Item Type | Item Limit | Loan Period | Fines (per day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DVD & Blu-Ray | 30 | 7 days | 50¢ |
| Hot Picks - DVD & Blu-Ray | 2 | 3 days | 50¢ |
| VHS | - | 7 days | 50¢ |
| Audio | - | 14 days | 10¢ |
| Playaways | - | 14 days | 10¢ |
| Books & Magazines, Adult | - | 14 days | 10¢ |
| Books & Magazines, Juvenile | - | 14 days | 5¢ |
| Hot Picks - Books | 2 | 7 days | 10¢ |
| Books in Boxes | 4 | 6 weeks | none |
| Book Club to Go | 2 set limit | 42 days | 10¢ |
| Teen Classroom Sets | 2 set limit per teacher | 1-6 weeks | none |
| SearchOhio/OhioLINK Books | Check with Staff | 21 days | 50¢ |
| SearchOhio/OhioLINK DVDs and Videos | Check with Staff | 7 days | 50¢ |
| Audiobooks & ebooks from OverDrive | 20 | 14 days | none |
| Audiobooks from RBdigital | 20 | 14 days | none |
| Stem Kit | 3 | 14 days | $10 and record blocked |
Hoopla Digital Media
| Items | Loan Period |
|---|---|
| Streaming Movies & TV | 3 days |
| Streaming Music | 7 days |
| ebooks, Audiobooks & Comics | 21 days |
Hoopla Limit Items
There is no limit as to how many items you can have out at a time, but you may only have 15 checkouts total per month. So if you take all 15 out at once, you're done until the month rolls over.
To learn more about borrowing Hoopla media items, visit our streaming media page.
RBDigital Streaming Video on Demand
| Items | Loan Period |
|---|---|
| Unlimited Streaming Movies & TV | 7 days |
To learn more about borrowing a RBDigital pass, visit our streaming media page.
Borrowing Privileges
Borrowing privileges will be suspended when the amount of unpaid fines reaches $10.00 (includes requesting and renewing of materials).
Maximum Fines
The maximum fine for any item is the replacement cost of that item.
Paying Fines
Customers may pay library fines at any branch, at Main Library, or pay their fines online.
SearchOhio and OhioLINK
A charge of $25.00 per item will be charged for any SearchOhio item damaged or not returned. The charge for an OhioLINK item damaged or not returned is $125.00 ($75 item fee plus $50 service fee). SearchOhio and OhioLINK policies, fines, and charges are determined by the consortiums and cannot be waived or negotiated. Learn more about SearchOhio and OhioLINK.
Service Charge
A processing fee or service charge of $5.00 per item is charged for lost or damaged materials. This fee is not refunded if the item is recovered: only the replacement cost is refunded. The $5.00 service fee applies to each lost item.
Stem Kits
Due to the anticipated high demand as well as the costs for these materials, Stem Kits have specific policies and procedures in place.
Reserving Library Materials
Customers may place holds on most library materials except reference materials, Hot Picks, and Book Club to Go sets. Holds may be placed in person, by telephone, via the Library Catalog, or through the Akron Library Mobile App. A customer may have a maximum of 100 holds at any one time. Books-in-Boxes must be reserved in person or by calling the Children's Library at 330-643-9050. Book Club to Go sets must be reserved in person or by calling Culture & AV at 330-643-9035.
Renewing
Frequency
Most items can be renewed up to five times. Items that are on a hold for another customer cannot be renewed. Interlibrary loans may be renewed depending on the policy of the lending library. Learn about all of the renewal options available for patrons.
Not Renewable
Hot Picks, Reference special loans, and items that have received a final notice cannot be renewed.
An item may be renewed up to the time of its second (final) overdue notice (bill).
Notices
Customers may choose to receive hold and overdue library notices by telephone or email. Text messaging is also available by opting in to the service (see below.)
Two notices will be sent to delinquent borrowers (the second notice is the bill and will be mailed). Customers who owe $75 or more also receive a bill for the fines due through a collection agency.
Courtesy notices are sent to those who receive their notices via email or text. These reminder notices are sent three days before an item is due.
Learn more about notice options and opting in to the text messaging service.
Claimed Returned
Customers are allowed only two claimed returned items. If the item claimed to be returned is not found by the Library and the item reaches "billed" status, the customer will be responsible for paying to replace it.