Loans & Fees
Visit My Account to keep track of your loans, renew items, and place holds—online!
Get a Library Card
To get a Berlin-Peck Memorial Library card, just bring in your Driver’s License (or other identification) showing your Berlin, East Berlin, or Kensington address. If your current address is not on your license, please bring in a lease, car registration, or utility bill showing your name and address.
Library cards expire after 3 years. Renew for free—just bring in your identification so we can double-check your address!
Library Card Policy
Sign Up Online
Lost/Stolen Cards
There is a $1 charge for a replacement library card if it is lost or stolen. A replacement card will not be issued to anyone with outstanding fines. If your library card has expired, we will give you a new one for free.
If you suspect your card has been stolen, notify the library immediately so that we can issue you a new library card number.
Children’s Cards
You’re never too young for a library card! Children must have a parent’s signature on the application form and one piece of parent’s identification with home address. Children entering grade 7 may request an adult library card.
Cards for Local Businesses
Local businesses are eligible for their own library card, with access to the library’s online services, databases, and downloadables. Physical items like books and DVDs cannot be borrowed with a business library card.
Not a Berlin Resident?
We lend to anyone with a current Connecticut library card!
- Visit your home library to get your library card.
- If your home library belongs to the Library Connection Inc. (LCI) consortium, you can use your card immediately.
- If you belong to another Connecticut library, we just need to add you to our system. Please visit the Circulation Desk with your library card and driver’s license with your current address.
We can provide digital materials (ebooks, audiobooks, etc.) and other online databases only to patrons with a Berlin-Peck Memorial Library card.
Limits & Late Fees
Late fees will never go above $5.00 per item—excluding museum passes (up to $50.00) and Wi-Fi HotSpots (up to $80.00).
Cards with $10.00 or more in fines will be restricted from borrowing library materials or using public computers. You can pay fines above $5.00 with credit/debit online by visiting My Account.
Loan Periods and Limits Policy
Returns Policy
Fines Policy
As of January 2, 2019, we no longer issue past due fines for the following:
- Children’s materials
- Seniors age 62 and above (see exceptions below)
The following items will still accrue late fees for all patrons regardless of age:
- Quick Loan Movies
- Wi-Fi HotSpots
- Video games
- Items in the Library of Things
- Replacement costs for lost or damaged items
- Adult, teen, or general materials borrowed with a child’s card
| Loan Period | Late Fee | Limits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books | 3 weeks | $0.15 per day | |
| Magazines | |||
| Audiobooks | |||
| Non-fiction DVDs | |||
| Music CDs | |||
| Children’s Materials | 3 weeks | No fines | |
| Children’s DVDs | 1 week | No fines | |
| Quick Loan Movies | 3 days | $1.00 per day | No holds Cannot be renewed No exceptions for seniors/children Must return to Berlin-Peck |
| New Blu-Rays/DVDs | 1 week | $1.00 per day | Cannot be renewed |
| Blu-Rays/DVDs | 1 week | $0.50 per day | |
| Video Games | 1 week | $1.00 per day | Cannot be renewed 3 per card |
| Returnable Museum Passes | 12:00 noon the next day | $10.00 per day | 4 per family per month |
| Printable Museum Passes | No need to return | No fines | 4 per family per month |
Items in the Library of Things collection have the following additional restrictions:
- Must be picked up at Berlin-Peck
- Must be returned to Berlin-Peck
- Cannot be returned in the book-drop
- Berlin-Peck patrons may place holds
| Loan Period | Renewals | Late Fee | Limits | Additional Fines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi HotSpots | 2 weeks | No renewals | $10 per day Max $80 |
Berlin patrons only Adults only Once per household per 60 days |
Book drop: $25 |
| Happy Lights Light Pad |
1 week | 1 renewal | $1 per day Max $10 |
Book drop: $10 | |
| Engraver Pens | Book drop: $5 | ||||
| Cake Pans | Book drop: $5 Uncleaned: $5 |
||||
| Binge Box | 1 week | 2 renewals | $1 per day Max $5 |
Responsible for any damage |
Holds
Looking for an item that isn’t on the shelf at the moment, or even an item from another library? You can place a hold and we’ll let you know when it arrives. Holds take about a week to arrive. To place a hold, log in to the catalog, stop by the desk, or call (860) 828-7126. There is no charge to place a hold.
If we have your email address in our system, we’ll send you a notice when your item is available for pickup—otherwise, we’ll give you a call. We keep items on hold for one week.
Renewals
Not finished yet? Most items can be renewed! Just visit My Account, stop by the desk, or call (860) 828-7125.
A few restrictions:
- Some items (like new movies) cannot be renewed.
- Items cannot be renewed more than twice.
- Items cannot be renewed if another patron has a hold on that item.
Inter-Library Loans
Connecticut’s BorrowIT service allows us to share our materials with libraries all over the state! Items available from other libraries in our consortium, Library Connections Inc. (LCI), can be found and easily reserved using Berlin-Peck’s online catalog. To reserve items that are not available from any libraries in our catalog, call (860) 828-7126 or visit the desk. In most cases, you’ll be able to pick up your items here at Berlin-Peck.
Inter-library loans are treated like holds. If we have your email address in our system, we’ll send you a notice when your item is available for pickup—otherwise, we’ll give you a call. We keep items on hold for one week.
You can also return our materials to any Connecticut library, or return materials from other libraries here (unless otherwise specified).
Lost or Damaged Items
If an item is lost or damaged, you will be responsible for the replacement cost, but not the late fees. Items can be paid for with cash or check, and this money is non-refundable.
Replacement cost is calculated for items as:
- In print: the list price of the item
- Out of print: average list price for the type of material
Lost items may be paid for with cash or check. Fines above $5.00 may be paid by credit card online by logging in to your library account.