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Your Library Card

Using the Library

Your Library card offers access to the entire collections held in the Timaru District Libraries as well as access to material held in other Libraries in New Zealand.

Please bring your Library card every time you visit the Library, we will not issue items without it.

Please do not lend your Library card to other people – you are responsible for all materials borrowed on your card and for any charges for overdue, lost or damaged items.

Lost cards – please notify the Library immediately if your card is lost or stolen, there is a charge of $5.00 for a replacement Library card.

Change of details – please let us know promptly if any information, such as your address and / or telephone number changes, so that we can update your record.

Borrowing Items

There is no limit to the number of items that can be issued per card (except for some limitations from the Children’s Library).

Items are issued for 4 weeks (except for Children’s DVDs', Videos and PlayStation Games – 1 week issue) and can be renewed for a further 4 weeks (Children’s DVD’s, Videos and PlayStation Games can be renewed for 1 week).

Overdue charges apply on any items more than 1 week overdue.

Locating Items

You can use the OPAC Library Catalogue to search for an item and find out if it is available.

If you are not sure how to search for an item in the Library please ask at any Help Desk.

For a guide to searching the OPAC Library Catalogue click here.

Reserving Items

If an item is listed on our OPAC Library Catalogue but is on issue or held at another Branch you can reserve it to be held aside when the item is returned / located.

There is a charge of $2.00 for each reserved item from the Adult collection. (Books that are available i.e. on the shelf in another Branch are Free to Reserve).

If you need an item that we do not have it may be possible to borrow it from another Library via Inter-Library Loan. You can search for the book yourself using the TePuna Catalogue (you will need a login and password to access this site, please contact the Library) or contact us with the information and we can do the search for you.

You can Reserve items via Telephone, at our Help Desks or Reserve it yourself using any of our OPAC Library Catalogue in any of our Libraries or at home via the Internet. (NB: Items that are Available, On-Order or In-Process cannot be Reserved via the OPAC’s or the Internet).

To Reserve an item yourself you will need a PIN and your Library Card number:

• First look up the item in the Catalogue and select the relevant title you want.
• Then click on the Place Reservation button, you will be asked for your Borrower Card number and your PIN.

For full instructions on Placing a Reservation click here.

When the item becomes available for you, you will be notified either by phone or mail.

Renewing an Item

All items are renewable once by either telephoning the Library, asking at the Issue Desk, online via the OPAC Library Catalogue , or by email; providing they have been reserved by another borrower.

Returning Items

Items can be returned to any of the 3 Libraries – it doesn’t matter which Library you had them issued from.

When the Libraries are closed books may be returned through the “After Hours book returns” slot – each Library has one, situated at the main entrance.

Welcome to the Timaru District Libraries Website.