Effective October 1st, 2019: If your library account has accumulated fees exceeding $24.99, you may no longer borrow materials (including electronic resources such as CloudLibrary e-books), or place holds. You may pay for fees using our Online Payment System. Payments made online are immediately credited to your library account. Once you pay off all outstanding fees, borrowing privileges will be immediately restored.
Borrowing FAQs
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General Questions
The Library takes every step possible to protect your credit card information so you can pay with confidence. Our Online Payment System uses current technology and industry standards such as PCI compliance for both our customers and bank credit card processing. Your credit card and identity information are secure with us.
Data Encryption
The Online Payment process uses servers and Internet connections that are secured using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). SSL is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between library services and your web browser. Additionally, the Library never retains or stores your credit card information.
You can borrow up to 50 items at any one time.
- Log in to your account by clicking on "Log In / My PBCLS" in the upper righthand corner.
- Type in your username or barcode followed by your PIN.
- Click on your your name in the upper righthand corner and a dropdown will appear.
- Click on "Fees" located under "MY BORROWING".
- You will see a list of titles, amounts due, and reasons for fee. Click "Pay fees" when you're ready to pay.
- On the following page, you will be able to choose which titles you will pay for. Click "Submit" at the bottom of your screen.
Electronic, streaming and downloadable content is available to Library members through various platforms that you can find under "Digital Media" on our homepage.
Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.
You may borrow an item for 21 days. Most items are eligible for up to 3 renewals of an additional 21 days each.
Will my items be automatically renewed?
The Palm Beach County Library System will attempt to renew your borrowed item two days before the due date. If successful, your loan period will be extended for 21 days from the existing due date, an additional full loan period. If unsuccessful, you will continue to receive notices about overdue items. You may wish to try to renew manually before you return the item.
How will I know if my item was renewed?
There are a few ways to find out an item's due date:- On the courtesy notice emailed or texted to you 2 days before the due date.
- Via your online account.
- By chat or phone.
Why Can’t I Renew?
There are several reasons why an item can't be renewed:- Outstanding holds (requests) on the item by other members.
- Your Library card account has a balance due of more than $24.99.
- Your Library card account is expired.
- The item was already renewed as many times as is allowed.
No. You may pay any of the fees owed, however, each individual fee must be paid in full.
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- When you borrow a HotSpot you are responsible for costs associated with loss or damage of the device and/or all cables and accessories. No fees will occur for data use of the device. Each kit contains four parts:
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- One Mobile HotSpot unit containing one SIM card and one battery
- One charging cable
- One power adapter
- One Clear carrying case
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- Mobile HotSpots that are not returned will be deactivated and be rendered useless.
- Failure to return the device may result in referral to the library's collection agency and additional fees.
- Members will be charged a replacement cost due to loss or damage as follows:
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- 1 Mobile HotSpot unit: $90.00
- 1 charging cable: $5.00
- 1 power adapter: $10.00
- Clear carrying case: $2.00
Yes! While Library cards do require a valid photo ID and proof of residential address, a "Quick Access Card" does not require proof of address.
What's the difference between a regular card and a quick access card?
Quick Access Card Regular Card Checkout Limit 5 items 50 items Holds Limit 10 holds 200 holds Privilege 1 year 5 years Borrow Interlibrary Loans No Yes Borrow Kits No Yes How do I get a Quick Access card?
Fill out a library card application and show a valid photo ID. Staff then verify that you live within the Library Taxing District or Library Cooperative based on the information provided.
What if my regular library card has expired and I can no longer prove my current/new addres? Can I change my card to a Quick Access Card?
Yes. Once you have proof of your current/new address, present it to a staff member to return to full borrowing privileges.
Can I borrow a HotSpot with a Quick Access Card?
Yes, adult members (16+) can borrow a HotSpot.
No. There is no service fee for paying your fees online.
By default, a checkmark will appear next to every fee listed. You can uncheck items you do not wish to pay for. The total will be recalculated automatically. You cannot make partial payments on individual fees.
We are eager to connect you with the material you are looking for. If the item is available at another branch, you can place a hold through our online catalog and have it sent to your location. You will be notified when it arrives. If you can't find an item in any of our branches, we can:
- Attempt to borrow the item from another library. Submit a request LINK to use our interlibrary loan service (books only), or
- Look into adding the item to our collection. Submit a request for purchase here LINK. Additions to our collection are subject to the Library's collection development policy and availability of the item. Unfortunately, we cannot follow up with you if the book is received. You are welcome to periodically check the online catalog or contact your local branch.
We gladly accept suggestions of materials to add to our collection. You can make your suggestion(s) here! Many factors are considered when reviewing suggestions, including but not limited to:
- Availability and suitability of format.
- Suitability of subject, style, and level for the intended audience.
- Critics’ and staff's reviews.
- Reputation of the publisher or producer; authority and significance of the author, composer, filmmaker, etc.
- Timeliness or permanence of the material.
- Quality of writing, design, illustrations, or production.
- Relevance to community needs.
- Relative importance in comparison with existing materials in the collection on the same subject.
- Price.
- Appearance of title in special bibliographies or indexes.
For this reason, we cannot guarantee that every suggestion will be purchased. If we are able to purchase your suggestion, however, we are unable to notify you when the material arrives. Feel free to search the catalog for the item periodically or ask a staff member. We are also happy to request an interlibrary loan (books only) if we are not able to purchase the item.
Payments made online are applied immediately to your account. Once you have paid your fees down to a balance less than $24.99 you will be able to place holds and borrow materials.
When your transaction is completed a receipt will be displayed. You should print and save this receipt for your records. You can also copy/paste the receipt into an email for your records.
No. The Library will not retain any of your credit card information.
If you receive an error message during the process, fees will remain on your account.You may visit any branch of the Palm Beach County Library System to make a payment by cash, check, or credit card at any of our branches. You may also pay by check via US Mail.
One-week loan period; 5 songs per week. The loan period is reset every Monday at midnight.
Yes! We are currently transferring over all lists, which should take just a couple weeks. In the meantime, we will provide access to the old catalog (Classic Catalog) for those who wish to continue to use it and access lists immediately. Do you want to create a list of items you've read/watched, are currently reading/watching, and those you want to read/watch? Use the new "My Shelves" feature.
Almost all items can be borrowed for three weeks, and if nobody has placed a hold on the item you've borrowed, it will be automatically renewed up to three more times.
A hold is a request for an item to be put aside for you. Sometimes the materials you are looking for are being borrowed by another member, not yet published or may only be available at another location. If you would like to borrow an item that is currently unavailable, simply sign into your account, and click the green "Place hold" button in the catalog. A pop-up will appear asking where you would like to pick up your item from a drop-down menu. Once you have chosen your preferred branch, click "Place hold". As soon as the item you have requested is available, we will notify you by your chosen contact method to come in and pick up your item.
Holds will expire one year from date placed.
Yes! You can return any Palm Beach County Library System item to any branch location. To find the location nearest you, please go here.
In that case, the materials will be due on the next business day.
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ebooks
Yes, titles can be downloaded to your device so that you do not need the internet to read or listen.
21-day loan period; 7 total checkouts at a time; 5 total holds at a time.
Yes! The Library offers an assortment of electronic materials, free of charge with your Palm Beach County Library System card.
With the CloudLibrary app and your Library card number, you can borrow seven e-books or e-audiobooks and place five holds at a time, each with a 21-day loan period. For CloudLibrary issues, support and a list of supported devices, click here.
Equipped with your Library card number and an email address, hoopla allows you to borrow e-books, e-comics, e-audiobooks, e-music and e-video content (loan periods vary by material type). For more information on how to set up and use your hoopla access, click here.
Freegal is a music service with a collection of over 10,000 labels representing music from over 60 countries. Each Palm Beach County Library System cardholder can download and keep five music tracks per week. Download or stream music here!
The Gale Virtual Library gives you access to reference books that can be browsed, searched and read online, and includes illustrations found in the printed volumes. To start your research, get your Library card number ready and click here.
NetLibrary offers access public domain titles, featuring political texts and classics in literature, history and information technology sets. Grab your Library card and click here to start browsing.
Project Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works to encourage the creation and distribution of e-books. It was founded in 1971 and is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books. Access these treasures here.
Yes, as long as the title does not have any holds on it. Three days prior to your book expiring a ‘Renew’ button will appear in the My Books area. The book will be renewed for an additional 21-day loan period.Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, Apple iPod Touch only (no other iPods are compatible), Android, Chrome, Fire (Amazon), Mac OS, Nook, Windows; MP3 players are not compatible with CloudLibrary due to Digital Rights Management and the ability for titles to be kept on those devices without expiring.No, cloudLibrary will use your existing library card number.Yes. Tap on View Cards from the home screen then ‘Add’ New.
Libraries have to purchase e-books (or e-audiobooks) the same way we purchase physical books. The publishers require us to abide by the one copy/one user model just like physical books.Yes. In the My Books area of the app under the Current section (indicated at the top left of the My Books section), tap on the ‘Return’ button next to the title you would like to return early. On a computer, go to My Books then make sure you are in the Reading section. Click on the ‘Return’ button next to the title you would like to return early.
Yes. To get to the settings menu, while in the book, tap the middle of the page and the menu will appear.
Library staff is always happy to help! Additionally, CloudLibrary has a great collection of how-to videos and user guide located here.
21-day loan period for e-books and e-audiobooks; 3-day loan period for movies; 7-day loan period for music albums; 10 total check-outs per month.
E-books and e-audiobooks can be accessed through CloudLibrary and hoopla.