Borrowing FAQs

  • General Questions

    You can immediately enjoy all our digital content — eBooks, eAudiobooks, download music, online learning tools and research databases. Check out our Online Library to see all the resources available to Digital Card members.

    No. If you are not currently an OPL member and would like to borrow and place holds on our physical collection, please visit any OPL branch to register for a physical full-access card. You’ll be asked to show valid and current name and address identification. All physical card holders will have access to all OPL’s physical and digital collections.

    No. Your current library card number already has access to all OPL digital content. Simply log in with your existing library card number and PIN/password. If you have forgotten your PIN/password, please call us at (905) 579-6111.

    Anyone with a digital card who wants to borrow physical items from the library can upgrade their digital card to a physical full-access one. Just visit any OPL branch with valid and current name and address identification, and staff will be happy to switch your digital card for a physical one. 

    Loan periods vary depending on what you are borrowing. For more information, please see our Borrowing Guide. Please return the items on time so we can share them with others.

    The Library can send hold and overdue notifications to your email address. If you wish to update or change your email address:

    1. Log in to your account.
    2. On the menu, click My Settings.
    3. On the My Settings page, find the Account Information section.
    4. Click Change next to Email Address.

    If you can’t remember your PIN, you can reset it. Head to our Log In/Register page and select the Forgot your Password? link under the password field. You’ll get an email with a link that will enable you to create a new PIN.

    Still can’t log in? Please contact us at (905) 579-6111 for further assistance.

    While we have fantastic collections here at Oshawa Public Libraries, from time to time we might not own the items you are looking for. We may still be able to help you find these items through our Interlibrary Loan Service (ILLO).

    For items less than a year old, please use our Suggest a Purchase form as most libraries will not lend out newer titles through ILLO.

  • Holds

    Depending on your account settings, you may receive a phone call or an email when a hold is available for you.

    Items will be held for 7 days from the date of notification. If you are unable to pick up your hold within the 7 days, the item will either be returned to its home location or made available for the next person on the hold list. 

    If you wish to update your email address or adjust your hold preferences:

    1. Log in to your account.
    2. On the menu, click My Settings.
    3. On the My Settings page, find the Account Information section (email address) or the Account Preferences section (holds pickup preference).
    4. Click Change next to the setting you want to adjust.

    Yes, you can!

    If you don’t want an item you have requested to become available when you’re unable to pick it up, you can pause the hold. Pausing, or suspending, retains your place in line until you’re ready to resume. It’s useful if you have items on hold and go on vacation, or already have things checked out you haven’t finished yet.

    ► To pause a single hold

    1. Log in to your account.
    2. On the menu, click On Hold.
    3. Find the title you want to pause.
    4. Click the Pause hold button.
    5. Choose a start and end date, then click Yes, pause holds. 
    6. You’ll see the message “Successfully paused holds” at the bottom of screen.

    ► To pause multiple holds

    1. Log in to your account.
    2. On the menu, click On Hold.
    3. If necessary, filter your holds by clicking Not ready under the My Borrowing summary on the left of the page. On a tablet or smartphone, tap the My Borrowing button first to display the filters.
    4. Do one of the following:
      • Click the checkbox next to each item you want to pause
      • Click the checkbox above the items to select all of the items on the page.
    5. A bar appears at the bottom of the page. Click Manage items, and then click Pause holds. The number of items affected appears in brackets on the menu.
    6. Choose a start and end date, then click Yes, pause holds.
    7. You’ll see the message “Successfully paused holds” at the bottom of screen.

  • Renewals

    Customers may receive an email to return their items if they are more than 4 days (for one-week loans) or 7 days (for three-week loans) overdue. Customers with phone notification will receive a call when items are more than 7 days overdue.

    Adult items incur either a $0.25 or $1.00 overdue fine per day. Children and teen items are fine free! If any library items have not been returned or renewed after 30 days, you will be billed for the replacement cost. 

    If your fines reach a total of $10.00 or more or 10 items overdue, you will not be able to borrow any more items, place holds or access eBooks, eAudiobooks, or any other digital content.

    Most library items can be renewed up to five times, as long as there are no holds. To renew your items, you may call the Library at (905) 579-6111, ext. 5258, speak to any staff member during your visit, or renew online.

    If you’re not finished with the items you’ve borrowed, you may want to renew them instead of returning them to the library before they are due. Many items can be renewed by phone at (905) 579-6111, ext. 5258, in person at any branch, or online. Items that are on hold for another customer cannot be renewed.

    ► To renew a single item online

    1. Log in to your account.
    2. On the menu, click Checked Out.
    3. Find the title you want to renew. By default, titles on the Checked Out page are displayed in order of due date, so overdue items are listed first.
    4. Click the Renew button below the item.

    A popup message will let you know if your renewal was successful.

    ► To renew multiple items online

    1. Log in to your account.
    2. On the menu, click Checked Out.
    3. If necessary, filter your checkouts by clicking Overdue, Next due or Due later under the My Borrowing summary on the left of the page.
    4. Do one of the following:
      • Click the checkbox next to each item you want to renew
      • Click the checkbox above the items to select all of the items on the page.
    5. A bar appears at the bottom of the page. Click Renew selected. The number of items affected appears in brackets on the menu.

    A pop-up message will let you know if your renewals were successful.

  • Checkouts

    Customers may receive an email to return their items if they are more than 4 days (for one-week loans) or 7 days (for three-week loans) overdue. Customers with phone notification will receive a call when items are more than 7 days overdue.

    Adult items incur either a $0.25 or $1.00 overdue fine per day. Children and teen items are fine free! If any library items have not been returned or renewed after 30 days, you will be billed for the replacement cost. 

    If your fines reach a total of $10.00 or more or 10 items overdue, you will not be able to borrow any more items, place holds or access eBooks, eAudiobooks, or any other digital content.

    Most library items can be renewed up to five times, as long as there are no holds. To renew your items, you may call the Library at (905) 579-6111, ext. 5258, speak to any staff member during your visit, or renew online.

    Physical library cards expire so that Library staff can confirm customer information such as address and email. To renew your physical card, visit any OPL branch with valid, current name and address identification.

    To renew your digital card, call (905) 579-6111 or visit any OPL branch.

    *Please note that digital cards only provide access to the Online Library. To borrow physical library items, visit any OPL branch to switch your digital card to a physical one. Physical library cards give you access to online and physical library items!

     

     

  • Fines

    Customers may receive an email to return their items if they are more than 4 days (for one-week loans) or 7 days (for three-week loans) overdue. Customers with phone notification will receive a call when items are more than 7 days overdue.

    Adult items incur either a $0.25 or $1.00 overdue fine per day. Children and teen items are fine free! If any library items have not been returned or renewed after 30 days, you will be billed for the replacement cost. 

    If your fines reach a total of $10.00 or more or 10 items overdue, you will not be able to borrow any more items, place holds or access eBooks, eAudiobooks, or any other digital content.

    Most library items can be renewed up to five times, as long as there are no holds. To renew your items, you may call the Library at (905) 579-6111, ext. 5258, speak to any staff member during your visit, or renew online.

    Fines and fees may be paid in person at any of our four branches at a main service point.