City of Sydney

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Library Membership, Loans & Renewals

Joining

City of Sydney Library card (2009).

Click on a heading for details.

1. City of Sydney residents (council area map)

2. Sydney metropolitan and New South Wales (NSW) residents

3. Visitors - tourists, backpackers, business visitors.

4. Residents at risk

NOTE: No membership and payment services at the Town Hall
Library Link and Pyrmont Link. Lost or stolen cards incur a replacement fee.

 

1. City of Sydney Residents and Ratepayers

To become a member of the City of Sydney Library Network please bring to a branch the following documents:

  • Proof of your name
  • Proof of your permanent residential address (eg. a bank statement)
  • FREE membership
  • Map of the City of Sydney local government area

 

2. Metropolitan Sydney and NSW Residents

To become a member of the City of Sydney Library Network please bring to a branch the following documents:

  • Proof of your name
  • Proof of your permanent residential address (eg. a bank statement)
  • $15 annual membership fee or concession $7 annual membership fee (seniors card, pension card)

Borrowing (City, Sydney and NSW Residents)

Members can borrow up to 20 items for three weeks. This includes:

    • Books, magazines - 20 at a time
    • Talking books - 20 at a time
    • CDs - 20 items at a time
    • Videos - 10 at a time
    • DVDs & VCDs - 10 at a time
    • Language kits - 2 at a time
    • Toys (Glebe only) - 2 items plus 1 puzzle at time
    • Reservations - 10 maximum
    • Inter-library Loans - 5 at a time

 

 

3. Temporary membership (TEMP)

Temporary membership (TEMP) for visitors to the City. Tourists, backpackers, business visitors etc... who have proof of a permanent address outside of NSW, including outside of Australia, can now apply for temporary membership.

    • We require two (2) forms of identification which should show proof of name and proof of address
    • Membership is for three (3) months, charged at $15 AU
    • There is a $15 fee for each renewal. No refunds or partial refunds will be awarded for temporary members who cannot make use of their membership for the full three (3) months. For instance, a tourist who plans to be in Sydney for 4 months is required to pay $15 for the initial three (3) months and then another $15 should they wish to access Library services in the fourth month of their visit
    • TEMP members may borrow five (5) items including one (1) audio-visual item at any one time
    • TEMP members do not have access to Reservation or Inter Library Loan services
    • TEMP members have free access to internet services as per full membership conditions

Translated library information: 圖書館 (Chinese) | Perpustakaan (Indonesian) | 図書館 (Japanese) | 도서관 (Korean) | Библиотек Pусский (Russian) | ไทย (Thai) | Thư viện (Vietnamese)

4.Membership for City Residents at Risk (NAS)

Residents of the City of Sydney who are homeless or have refugee status require proof of name only such as a pension or Medicare card.

    • There is no fee for this type of membership
    • Membership is valid for twelve (12) months
    • NAS members may borrow five (5) items including one (1) audio-visual item at any one time
    • NAS members do not have access to Reservation or Inter Library Loan services
    • NAS members have free access to internet services as per full membership conditions

 

 

Benefits of Library Membership

In addition to lending services the following benefits are also available to members:

Ticket Discounts

City of Sydney Library Members now have access to exclusive benefits to arts and cultural events in the City. For details click here.

Free Internet & Wireless Access

For details click here.

Home Access to Online Databases

For details click here.

Free Computer Training

For details click here.

 

 

Returning

You can return your City of Sydney Library books and other items (except toys*) at any branch of the City of Sydney Library network. Check the list of branches on the back of your library card or click here... After-hours return chutes are availalble...

* Toy collection - please return these items to the branch they were borrowed from.

 

Renewing

Members can renew a loan, using one these easy renewal options:

Please have your library card handy.

 

 

Late Fines

The late return of items incurs the following fines:

  • The fine rate for all overdue items is 25c per item per day.
  • The minimum fine for each item will be $2
  • The maximum fine for each item will be $10
  • Patrons may continue to borrow if their total fines are under $5. Customers having fines over $5 are unable to borrow
  • Fines can only be paid on the return or renewal of the overdue item
  • There is a grace period of seven (7) days in which no fines will apply.  On the eighth day, all fines will be charged. After which items will continue to accrue fines at the set rate

Lost/damaged items will incur replacement and processing charges.

NOTE: no fines payment services available at the Town Hall Library Link and Pyrmont Link.

 

Translated Library Information

Available for download are the following languages.

Downloads

To view PDF files you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Get Acrobat Reader Now. PDF Accessibility.

 

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Last Updated: Monday 28 September, 2009

Please Note:
While care is taken to ensure accuracy, the City of Sydney cannot guarantee that information expressed here is correct and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. The City of Sydney makes no warranty or undertaking, whether expressed or implied, nor does it assume any legal liability, whether direct or indirect.