Borrowing, loans and fines

Library fines and costs

Concessions

Customers who are:

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

Last updated: 16 September 2025