Borrowing, loans and fines

Adults

Once you join the library you can borrow up to 25 items. This can include a combination of:

• 20 books for three weeks
• eight audio items for three weeks
• 12 audiobooks for three weeks
• two language courses for six weeks
• eight DVDs for one week

How much does it cost?

Borrowing books is free.

There is a charge for:

• borrowing CDs, DVDs and language courses
• other services such as reproducing pictures from our archive

You may be free from some charges or entitled to concessions. Ask a member of staff or email us to find out, [email protected].

Overdue items

If you registered your email with us, we will send you a reminder email a couple of days before the due date.

If you do not return your items on time, we will send you an overdue notice:

• first overdue notice: 14 days after due date
• second overdue notice: 36 days after due date

Log into your account to view your library fines and charges online. Fines and charges can be paid online with a debit or credit card. Fines and charges can also be paid in the library.

Library fines and charges

Concessions

• Customers who are under 12 - exempt from all charges except for DVDs.
• Customers between the ages of 12-15 years, 60+ and registered disabled - free loan of audio and spoken word.
• Customers who are receiving benefits - concessionary rates for audio, spoken word and language courses.
• Home Library Service users - exempt from all charges.
• RBKC staff - Kensington and Chelsea staff - concessionary rates for audio, spoken word, language courses and DVDs.

Loans are free and all items may be renewed up to eight times (unless reserved)

Overdue charges

	Charges from 1 April 2025
Book/audio fine	£0.25
Book/audio fine, 16-17 years	£0.10
Book/audio fine, under 16	No charge
SMS text notice	Free of charge
Email notice	Free of charge
Maximum overdue fine limit, 18+	£10
Maximum overdue fine limit, 16-17 years	£2

Replacement membership cards

	Charges from 1 April 2025
Replacement library card	£3.50
Replacement library card, under 16s	£1.20

Reservations

	Charges from 1 April 2025
Reservations	£1.10
Reservations, concessions	£0.65
Reservations, 16-17 years	£0.65
Reservations, children under 16	Free.  All of the above for holdings in in our shared catalogue with Westminster libraries or via Inter-Library Loans
Reservations, Kensington and Chelsea staff	Free
British Library loan, periodical article	Free
Periodical article	Free
Periodical article, concessions	Free

Sound recordings

	Charges from 1 April 2025
CD single or set	£1.20
CD single or sets (concessions U12/12-15/60+/disabled)	£0.50
CDs single or sets (concessions, people receiving benefits, Kensington and Chelsea staff)	£0.50
Reservation for music sound recordings	Free

Language courses

	Charges from 1 April 2025
Language course (physical)	£2.70
Language course (physical), concessions	£1.50
Language course on cassette/CD, English courses only including concessions	Free
English language courses on DVD	Free
Online language courses	£7.20
Online language courses,concessions	£3.50

Audiobooks and DVD

	Charges from 1 April 2025
Talking books (three weeks)	£1.10
Talking books (concessions, people receiving benefits, Kensington and Chelsea staff)	£0.55
DVDs	£1.20
Children's DVDs	£1.20

Printing, photocopying and internet

	Charges from 1 April 2025
Photocopies (per side), black & white A4	£0.25
Photocopies (per side), black & white A3	£0.50
Photocopies (per side), colour A4	£0.90
Photocopies (per side), colour A3	£1.65
Printing, black & white A4	£0.25
Printing, black & white A3	£0.50
Printing, colour A4	£0.90
Printing, colour A3	£1.65
Internet, library members first hour	Free
Subsequent hour (minimum charge 25p per charged booking). You may be entitled to a concessionary waiver if you claim Universal Credit. Please speak to library staff for more details.	£1.10

Filming within libraries

	Charges from 1 April 2025
Filming, standard library opening hours / per hour	£187
Filming, out of hours / per hour	£235
Parking	£65
Filming, extra staff needed out of hours	£50

Lost items

	Charges from 1 April 2025
Lost identifiable items incl DVDs	Full replacement cost plus £10 administration charge
Damaged items	Full replacement cost plus £10 administration charge

Room and equipment hire

More information about library rooms and equipment hire can be found on our Venue hire page

Miscellaneous fees and charges

Community notice boards - maximum of £54 per advert per week, £1.70 per advert per week for community use only.