Borrowing, loans and fines

Adults

Once you join the library you can borrow up to 25 items. This can include a combination of:

• 15 books for three weeks
• eight audio items for three weeks
• two language courses for six weeks
• three DVDs for one week

Children

Children can borrow up to 16 items once they have a library card. This can include a combination of:

• 12 books for three weeks
• four audio items for three weeks
• two language courses for six weeks
• three DVDs for one week

How much does it cost?

Borrowing books is free.

There is a charge for:

• borrowing CD, DVDs and language courses
• other services such as reproducing pictures from our archive

You may be free from some charges or entitled to concessions. Ask a member of staff or email us to find out [email protected].

Overdue items

If you registered your email with us, we'll send you a reminder email a couple of days before the due date.

If you don't return your items on time, we'll send you an overdue notice:

• first overdue notice: 14 days after due date
• second overdue notice: 36 days after due date

The charge for posting overdue notices is £1 (£0.40 for under 18s).

Log into your account to view your library fines and charges online. Fines and charges can be paid online with a debit or credit card, click the 'Pay Selected' button in the Charges tab in My Account. A receipt will be emailed to you. Fines and charges can also be paid in the library.

Library fines and charges

Kensington and Chelsea concessions

• Customers who are under 12 - Exempt from all charges except for DVDs.
• Customers between the ages of 12-15 years, 60+ and registered disabled - Free loan of audio and spoken word.
• Customers who are receiving benefits - Concessionary rates for audio, spoken word and language courses.
• Home Library Service users - Exempt from all charges.
• RBKC staff - Kensington and Chelsea staff - Concessionary rates for audio, spoken word, language courses and DVDs.

Loans are free and all items may be renewed up to eight times (unless reserved)

Overdue charges

	Charges from 1 April 2023
Book/Audio fines	£0.25
Book/Audio fines 16-17 yrs	£0.10
Book/Audio fines under 16	No charge
Charge for posting overdue notices Under 18	£0.40
SMS Text notices	Free of charge
Email notices	Free of charge
Maximum overdue fine limit 18+	£10.00
Maximum overdue fine limit 16-17yrs	£2.00

Replacement Membership Cards

	Prices from 1 April 2023
Replacement Library Card	£3.50
Replacement Library card under 16s	£1.20

Reservations

	Prices from 1 April 2024
Reservation	£1.10
Reservations - concessions	£0.65
Reservations - 16-17 yrs	£0.65
Reservations - children under 16	Free  All of the above for holdings in in our shared catalogue with Westminster libraries or via Inter-Library Loans
Reservations – Kensington and Chelsea staff	No charge
British Library loan - periodical article	No charge
Periodical article	No charge
Periodical article - concessions	No charge

Sound recordings

	Prices from 1 April 2023
CD single or set	£1.20
CD single or sets (concessions U12/12-15/60+/Disabled)	£0.50
CDs single or sets (concessions -people receiving benefits, Kensington and Chelsea staff)	£0.50
Reservation for music sound recordings	Free

Language courses

	Prices from 1 April 2023
Language course on cassette/CD	£2.90
Language course on cassette/CD - English courses only including concessions	Free
Language Courses on CD-ROM	£2.90
Language Courses on DVD	£2.70
English Language courses on DVD	Free
Online language courses	£7.20

Audiobooks and DVD

	Prices from 1 April 2023
Talking Books (3 weeks)	£1.10
Talking books (concessions -people receiving benefits, Kensington and Chelsea staff)	£0.55
DVD (hire) New release	£2.90
Feature DVDs	£2.40
Children's DVDs non feature	£1.20
Children's DVD features + Feature films U	£1.20
DVD boxed sets	£2.90

Printing, photocopying and internet

	Prices from 1 April 2023
Photocopies (per side) B/W A4	£0.30
Photocopies (per side) B/W A3	£0.55
Photocopies (per side) Colour A4	£1.00
Printing - A4 Black & White	25p
Printing - A3 Black & White	50p
Printing - A4 Colour	90p
Printing - A3 Colour	£1.65
Internet - Library members 1st hour	Free
Subsequent hour (minimum charge 25p per charged booking). You may be entitled to a concessionary waiver if you claim universal credit.  Please speak to library staff for more details.	£1.10

Filming within libraries

	Prices from 1 April 2023
Filming - standard library opening hours / per hour	£187.00
Filming - out of hours / per hour	£235.00
Parking	£64.00

Lost items

	Prices from 1 April 2023
Lost Identifiable items inc DVDs	Full replacement cost plus £10 administration charge
Damaged items	Full replacement cost plus £10 administration charge
Lost unidentifiable Items	£12.00
Items belonging to other institutions	Full cost of recovery (including any penalty or administrative charge levied by the institution)

Local studies reproduction

	Prices from 1 April 2023
B&W	£27.00
Books Colour	£52.00
Books non profit B&W	£8.00
Books non profit Colour	£16.00
Book jackets B&W	£80.00
Book jackets colour	£160.00
Newspapers B&W	£32.00
Newspapers colour	£65.00
Postcards trade B&W	£65.00
Postcards trade colour	£135.00
Postcards charity B&W	£33.00
Postcards charity colour	£65.00
Posters and calendars B&W	£130.00
Posters and calendars colour	£260.00
Advertising B&W	£86.00
Advertising Colour	£170.00
TV/Film B&W	£66.00
TV/Film colour	£130.00
Specific enquiries including short enquiries	£5.00
Census enquiries	£4.50
Longer searches min 1 hour inc VAT per hour	£21.00

Room and equipment hire

More information about library rooms and equipment hire can be found on our Venue hire page

Miscellaneous fees and charges

Community notice boards - maximum of £53.50 per advert per week, £1.70 per advert per week for community use only.