Derby Libraries charges

It is free to join the library and to borrow books. There are charges for some library services.

Ebooks and Audiobooks are free to download from our eLibrary – eBook, eAudiobook and eMagazine loans.

You can pay your library charges online.

Library charges from January 2022

Books and audio books

Books (issued for three weeks, may be renewed)

Standard late fee

21p a day for each book up to a maximum of £8.40 each book

Concessionary late fee 11p a day for each book up to a maximum of £4.40 each book
Audio books (issued for three weeks, may be renewed)
Standard hire charge and renewal charge

£1.35

Audio book late fees are the same as book late fees

Hold charges
Standard charge 52p
Concessionary charge 26p
Postal notification standard charge 90p per notification
Overdue postcards
Standard charge 90p per postcard issued
Lost and damaged books and audiobooks

If an item has been damaged, lost or stolen, we will charge you the retail replacement cost. Alternatively, we will accept a replacement copy of the item but it must be new and in the same format (hardback for hardback, for example). There will be a £2.21 processing charge for each item replaced.

These changes apply to all categories of borrower, including Gold Card holders, except for Home Library Service customers and children under 12 when items have been borrowed on their own library card.

Inter library loans (these charges are in addition to the standard or concessionary hold charge)
Item sourced from British Library £19.90
British Library renewal charge £5.55

For any inter library loan book which is lost or damaged we will pass on the full cost charged to Derby Libraries plus a £7 handling charge. Please note that the British Library charges a flat rate for books borrowed from them that are lost or damaged when on loan.

 Concessions

Category of borrower Audio books hire and renewal charge Late fees - books and magazines Late fees - audio books Overdue postcards Holds* - books and audio books Holds - postal notification Lost and damaged - books and audio books Replacement tickets
Children up to 12 Free Free Free Free Free Free Free Free
Young person 12-18 (up to 19th birthday for b_line cardholders) Free Concessionary Concessionary Standard Free Standard Standard Free
Full time students Free Concessionary Concessionary Standard Concessionary Standard Standard Free
Adults (18-59) Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard
Benefits**, Disabled, 60+ Free Concessionary Concessionary Standard Concessionary Standard Standard Free
Home Library Service Free Free Free Not applicable Free Not applicable Free Free

*This refers to the 'standard' hold charge and not the Inter Library Loan charge, which applies to all categories of borrower including Home Library Service

**You need to be in receipt of one of the following benefits - Universal Credit, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Incapacity Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit  Council Tax Support and Housing Benefit.