Library cards, renewing and returning items

Renew an item, search the catalogue or join the library online

Membership of Portsmouth City libraries is free - you don’t even need to live in Portsmouth.

You can join in person at any library, or complete the online application form.

If you’re under 16, we need to check that one of your parents, or your guardian, is happy for you to join the library.

You can use your library card straight away in all Portsmouth City Council's ten libraries. If you borrow items from one branch, you can return them to any Portsmouth library.

Your card gives you free access to the internet and Microsoft Office on our library computers, and the following discounts in the city:

20% off All-Attraction tickets to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard - terms & conditions apply - download terms & conditions document below.
20% discount with Hovertravel
£2 off standard admission to the Blue Reef Aquarium
20% discount at Mozzarella Joes
10% discount at Blossoms of Portsmouth florist
Children aged 12 and under who live in Portsmouth swim for free at Portsmouth swimming pools: the Mountbatten Centre, Eastney Swimming Pool and Charter Community Sports Centre.

Looking after your library card Open / Close

We can email you a reminder that your books are overdue, or let you know that your reservation is ready for collection, if you let us have your email address when you join.

If you change your name, address, telephone number or email address, let us know so we can update your card.

If your card is lost or stolen, let us know as soon as possible, and we will cancel the card (If you don’t, you may be liable for anything borrowed on it).

Your first library card is free, but we charge £1.50 to replace an adult card, and 50p to replace a child's card.

Borrowing from libraries Open / Close

Books are free to borrow. There are small charges for CDs and DVDs which you can see on the Fines and charges sheet below. Age restrictions are observed on DVDs according to their certification.

aged 11 and over, you can borrow any 30 books, audio books, CDs and DVDs
under 11, you can borrow 20 books, audio books, CDs and DVDs.

If you are housebound, a registered childminder, or run a playgroup or residential home, special arrangements can be made for you. Just ask at your local library, where staff will be happy to help.

You can normally keep items for either four weeks or one week, depending on what you’ve chosen:

Loan duration	Items
Four weeks	Books, talking books, language packs, although if another borrower has reserved an item, we will only be able to issue it to you for one week, instead of four.
Three weeks	e-audiobook downloads.
One week	DVDs cannot be renewed, but you are welcome to bring them to the library and pay to borrow them for another week. Recorded music (cannot be renewed)

Returning library items Open / Close

You can go to any Portsmouth library to return or renew items or to pay fines (if you bring items back late, you will incur fines). You can download the fines and charges for 2015/2016 below.

Anything reserved by another borrower can only be renewed for seven days. The following items can't be renewed:

DVD and CD loans incur the daily fine rate for each day they go overdue (see fines and charges leaflet below for the current daily fine)
overdue items that have reached the maximum fine of £9
items that have been renewed five times without being seen at the library. They can, however, be re-issued if you bring them into the library

Renewing library items Open / Close

You don't need to take the items with you to renew items in a library. If you can’t get to a library, have your library card number handy and you can still renew your items by:

phoning 023 9281 9311
emailing your local branch (please see the contact details at the bottom of the page)
using the online catalogue - you will need to use your PIN (if you don't have a PIN, bring your library card to the library and we'll create one for you)

If you renew your loans late, we add the fines to your account and you can pay them on your next visit

Requesting library items Open / Close

If you can't find what you're looking for when you visit the library, or what you want is in another Portsmouth library, then we will try and get it for you. Reserving an item costs £1, which you pay when you collect your item. Reservations for children under 16 are free. To reserve an item:

pop into your local library and speak to a member of staff
phone your library to make a reservation
using your PIN, place a reservation on the online catalogue. (if you don't have a PIN, library staff can arrange one for you)

Items we don't stock in the city libraries we will try to find elsewhere for you, but this may take longer. The usual charge for interlibrary loans is £4, which you pay when you collect your item. You can request:

books
journal articles (can be uploaded to your email address, if you have Adobe 6 or higher)
conference proceedings
orchestral sets (additional charges apply - check with library staff)
vocal scores (additional charges apply - check with library staff)
play sets (additional charges apply - check with library staff).

We don't borrow DVDs and CDs from outside Portsmouth, but it's still worth requesting titles because we may buy them. We will let you know if we decide not buy. We no longer accept requests for theses and dissertations.