Library closures
For information about library services and closures and services at this time, please visit the coronavirus service disruptions and updates page.
Borrowing, loans and fines
Adults
Once you join the library you can borrow up to 25 items. This can include a combination of:
- 15 books for three weeks
- eight audio items for three weeks
- two language courses for six weeks
- three DVDs for one week
Children
Children can borrow up to 16 items once they have a library card. This can include a combination of:
- 12 books for three weeks
- four audio items for three weeks
- two language courses for six weeks
- three DVDs for one week
How much does it cost?
Borrowing books is free.
There is a charge for:
- borrowing CD, 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 libraries@rbkc.gov.uk.
Overdue items
If you registered your email with us, we'll send you a reminder email a couple of days before the due date.
If you don't return your items on time, we'll send you an overdue notice:
- first overdue notice: 14 days after due date
- second overdue notice: 36 days after due date
The charge for posting overdue notices is £1 (£0.40 for under 18s).
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, click the 'Pay Selected' button in the Charges tab in My Account. A receipt will be emailed to you. Fines and charges can also be paid in the library.
Library fines and charges
RBKC 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 format.
- Customers who are receiving benefits - Concessionary rates for Audio, Spoken word and Language courses formats.
- 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
| Book/Audio fines | £0.25 |
| Book/Audio fines 16-17 yrs | £0.10 |
| Book/Audio fines under 16 | No charge |
| Charge for posting overdue notices | £1.00 |
| Charge for posting overdue notices Under 18 | £0.40 |
| SMS Text notices (note: notices sent by email will remain free of charge) | £0.20 |
| Email notices | Free of charge |
| Maximum overdue fine limit aged 18+ | £10.00 |
| Maximum overdue fine limit 16-17yrs | £2.00 |
Replacement Membership Cards
| Replacement Library Card | £3.00 |
| Replacement Library card under 16s | £1.00 |
Reservations
| Standard Reservation | £1.00 |
| Reservations - concessions | £0.60 |
| Reservations - 16-17 yrs | £0.60 |
| Reservations - children under 16 | Free All of the above for holdings in Triborough Libraries or via Inter-Library Loans. |
| Reservations - RBKC staff | No charge |
| BL Loan - books, Inter Library Loan outside UK, or Interlibrary Loan via Academic Institutions | £14 (£13 + £1 reservation charge) |
| BL Loan - periodical article | £7.00 + 10p per page |
| Periodical article | £1.00 + 10p per page |
| Periodical article - concessions | 50p + 10p per page |
Sound recordings
| CD single or set | £1.00 |
| CD single or sets (concessions U12/12-15/60+/Disabled) | Free |
| CDs single or sets (concessions -people receiving benefits, RBKC staff) | £0.40 |
| Reservation for music sound recordings | Free |
Language courses
| Language course on cassette/CD | £2.50 |
| Language course on cassette/CD - English courses only including concessions | Free |
| Language Course cassette/CD (concessions – people receiving benefits , RBKC staff) | £1.10 |
| Language Courses on CD-ROM | £2.50 |
| Language Courses on DVD | £2.50 |
| Language Courses on DVD (RBKC staff) | £2.00 |
| English Language courses on DVD | Free |
| Online language courses | £6.00 |
Audiobooks and DVD
| Talking Books (3 weeks) | £1.00 |
| Talking books (concessions -people receiving benefits, RBKC staff) | £0.50 |
| DVD (hire) New release | £2.50 |
| New release (RBKC staff) | £2.00 |
| Feature DVDs | £2.00 |
| Feature DVDs RBKC staff | £2.00 |
| Children's DVDs non feature | £1.00 |
| Children's DVD features + Feature films U | £1.00 |
| DVD boxed sets | £2.50 |
| DVD boxed sets (RBKC staff) | £2.50 |
Printing, photocopying and internet
| Photocopies (per side) B/W A4 | £0.20 |
| Photocopies (per side) B/W A3 | £0.40 |
| Photocopies (per side) Colour A4 | £0.80 |
| Printing - A4 Black & White | £0.20 |
| Printing - A3 Black & White | £0.40 |
| Printing - A3 Colour | £1.50 |
| Internet - Library members 1st hour | Free |
| Subsequent hour (minimum charge 25p per charged booking) | £1.00 |
Filming within libraries
| Filming - standard library opening hours / per hour | £150.00 |
| Filming - out of hours / per hour | £200.00 |
| Parking | £60.00 |
Lost items
| Lost Identifiable items inc DVDs | Full replacement cost either using item price on LMS or the default price = £10.00 |
| Damaged items | Full replacement cost either using item price on LMS or the default price = £10.00 |
| Lost unidentifiable Items | Full replacement cost either using item price on LMS or the default price = £10.00 |
| Items belonging to other institutions | Full cost of recovery (including any penalty or administrative charge levied by the institution) |
Local studies reproduction
| B&W | £27.00 |
| Books Colour | £52.00 |
| Books non profit B&W | £8.00 |
| Books non profit Colour | £16.00 |
| Book jackets B&W | £80.00 |
| Book jackets colour | £160.00 |
| Newspapers B&W | £32.00 |
| Newspapers colour | £65.00 |
| Postcards trade B&W | £65.00 |
| Postcards trade colour | £135.00 |
| Postcards charity B&W | £33.00 |
| Postcards charity colour | £65.00 |
| Posters and calendars B&W | £130.00 |
| Posters and calendars colour | £260.00 |
| Advertising B&W | £86.00 |
| Advertising Colour | £170.00 |
| TV/Film B&W | £66.00 |
| TV/Film colour | £130.00 |
| Specific enquiries including short enquiries | £5.00 |
| Census enquiries | £4.50 |
| Longer searches min 1 hour inc VAT per hour | £21.00 |
Room and equipment hire
Main library
| Lecture theatre (10% discount for Community Groups, Charities) | £70.00 |
| Lecture theatre Saturday rate | £80.00 |
| Meeting room in conjunction with lecture theatre | £30.00 |
| Meeting room in conjunction with lecture theatre - Saturday rate | £40.00 |
| Meeting room separately | £35.00 |
| Meeting room separately - Saturday rate | £45.00 |
| Kitchen and crockery | £22.00 |
| Piano + tuning | £100.00 |
| Screen only | £10.00 |
| Lighting theatre | £45.00 |
| Flip chart | £12.00 |
| Projector | £55.00 |
| Laptop | £55.00 |
Chelsea library
| 1 week Standard rate (10% discount for Community groups, charities) | £240.00 |
| 2 weeks Standard Rate (10% discount for Community groups, charities) | £360.00 |
| Private view (10% discount for Community groups, charities) | £170.00 |
| Corridor boards per booking (additional space) (10% discount for Community groups, charities) | £110.00 |
| Corridor boards per booking (2 weeks) (10% discount for Community groups, charities) | £160.00 |
| Walker room | £290.00 |
Brompton Library and Chelsea Learning Centre
| Daytime Standard Rate (per hour) (10% discount for Community groups, charities) | £25.00 |
| Saturday rate | £30.00 |
| Evenings Standard Rate | £18.00 |
| DVD, Video and TV | £68.00 |
| Flip Chart | £11.00 |