Navigation


Lending Guidelines

 

Due dates are back!

During this historic time, the San Leandro Public Library has been extending due dates periodically on all checked-out library materials. As we implement a fine free model, we have decided to reinstate due dates as well as turn on our automatic renewal feature. What does this mean for you and the items you have checked out?

    • Effective immediately, all library materials will be checked out for three weeks.
    •  Three days before the due date, library materials will be automatically renewed for an additional three weeks if the item allows renewals and there are no holds on it. You will receive a notice that your item(s) has been renewed, as well as alerting you if some of your items did not get renewed. This automatic renewal will occur a maximum of two times.
    •  After the two automatic renewals, you will need to return your library materials. We are no longer extending due dates periodically.
    •  If an item is not returned within 30 days of the due date, you will be charged for the cost of the item. This cost will be waived upon the return of the item, and no later fees will be assigned. 

Loan Periods

Material Type 

Loan Period

Books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, magazines, pamphlets 

 3 Weeks
 eMaterials 3 Weeks


Effective March 1, 2021, the San Leandro Public Library has extended loan periods to three-week periods across all library material types. 

Renewals

The San Leandro Public Library now automatically renews your library materials! Checked-out items will be renewed up to two times, unless someone has placed a hold on the item, or the item does not qualify for renewals.

 

Some materials have renewal limits, depending on the item type:

 

Material Type

Renewals

Audiobooks, Blu-Rays, Books, DVDs, CDs

 2
Tech2Go Kits (laptop, hotspot, laptop & hotspot kits) 2
Lucky Day Collection 0 - Not available for renewals

 

How does Automatic Renewal work? 

 

  • Three days before your due date, your items will be automatically renewed if there are no holds and the item allows renewals.
  •  You will receive a notice from the library letting you know that this renewal was successful as well as alerting you if any items did not get renewed.
  •  Automatic renewal will happen a maximum of two times.
  •  After the two automatic renewals, or if an item does not qualify for renewals, library materials will need to be returned. Currently, the Main Library bookdrop is open 24/7.

Limits

You can check out up to 60 items at any one time. There are a few other specific material type limits:

Material Type

Item Limit

Blu-Rays

 10 per card
DVDs 10 per card
Lucky Day Book 2 per card
Music CDs 30 per card
OverDrive/Libby eBooks or eAudiobooks 10 per card
Tech2Go Kits 1 per card

 

Returns

Currently, you can return your checked-out materials at the Main Library using our bookdrop slots which are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Items are being quarantined for at least seven days before being checked in and removed from your library account.

 

Items that do not fit in the bookdrop, or items that should not be returned due to them being delicate (like our Tech2Go kits or boardgames), must be returned to a library staff member. If you need to return an item that cannot go into the bookdrop, please:

 

  • Come to the Main Library between 9:00 am to 12:00 pm OR from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm wearing a face covering/mask.
  • Knock on the front sliding glass doors. 
  • The Library Security Aide on duty will approach the sliding glass doors. When you see the Library Security Aide, please move back from the doors to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from the security staff person. 
  • Wait for them to wheel a cart out and place the item in the tub on the cart. 
  • The Library Security Aide will then wheel the cart in to the bookdrop room to be quarantined with the rest of the returned library materials. 
  • The Library Security Aide will NOT be able to answer questions about Circulation issues. If you have any questions, please email circulation@sanleandro.org 

Please note, if a Library Security Aide is not able to respond to your knocking, you will need to wait to return the item later. Thank you for your patience.

Requests & Holds

 You can request books, audiobooks, Tech2Go kits, magazines, music CDs, and DVDs/Blu-Rays that are showing as available (or on the shelf) in the library catalog, as well as those that are currently checked out. This can be done through the website or over the phone. You can have 15 holds on your library account.

 

 Items that are showing as available in our catalog will be pulled by library staff in the date order that holds are placed, and your hold will be available for a Curbside Pickup appointment. To learn more about our Curbside Pickup service, please visit our Curbside page.

 

When the item becomes available, you will receive a notice either via email, text, or a phone call depending on the preference you chose when you created your library account. The library highly recommends you use either email or text as your notice setting. To find out what your setting is, or update your notice preference please email circulation@sanleandro.org. 

 

 Would you like an item that you don’t see in our catalog? Fill out a Suggest a Purchase form and let us know what you’d like to read, watch, or listen to!

Fines

As of March 1, 2021, the San Leandro Public Library is overdue fine free! This means that we are no longer charging the daily overdue fines on items that are returned late.

 

The library is now using an automatic renewal feature, which will extend your loan period three days before your due date. If an item is unable to be renewed, either due to a hold from a library patron or the item does not qualify for holds, the item will need to be returned on or before the due date.

  

If an item is not returned 30 days after its due date, the item will be set to lost and your library account will be charged for the cost of the item. Once the item is returned, the lost fine will be waived from your library account.

 

Have a lost item or damaged item charge on your account? You can pay online; it's quick, easy, and secure! Visit our online payment portal and enter your library card number and PIN (last four digits of the phone number) to log on. 

 

Click here to pay for lost & damaged fees

Click here for instructions on paying your fees online

Lost & Damaged

If an item is not returned 30 days after its due date, the item will be set to lost and your library account will be charged for the cost of the item. Once the item is returned, the lost fine will be waived from your library account.

 

If an item is returned damaged, the borrower will be charged for the replacement cost of the item. Customer replacements for lost or damaged items are not accepted.

   

If a lost item is paid for but is then found within three months of the original due date, the item can be returned for a refund. If any part of an item is missing upon return, the full replacement cost of the item may be charged.

  

Library accounts with lost and/or damaged fees accumulating to $50.00 or more will have borrowing privileges suspended.

 

Have a lost item or damaged item charge on your account? You can pay online; it's quick, easy, and secure! Visit our online payment portal and enter your library card number and PIN (last four digits of the phone number) to log on. 

Click here to pay for lost & damaged fees

Click here for instructions on paying your fees online

Contact

If you need any assistance with your library account, please email circulation@sanleandro.org or call 510-577-3970 during Curbside hours (Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm).