Ngā Pātai me ngā Whakautu - Library FAQs

How many items can I borrow at once?

You can have up to 20 items out on your card. 

How do I know when my items are due back?

Our books and audiobooks are issued for three weeks; DVDs, magazines and kits are issued for one week.

Use our catalogue or our TCDC Libraries app to check your library account online. You'll need to log in using your library card number and your password.

We can provide you with a printed due date slip when you take out books.

We can send you a reminder by email three days before your items are due back.  Please update your email address to sign up for this service. 

 

How do I renew a book?

  • Log into your account via our online catalogue
  • Click the 'Log In' button in the top right corner.
  • You'll need your library card user ID (that's the number under the barcode on the back of your library card) and your password.
  • Click 'My Account' and then choose the 'Checkouts' tab.
  • Tick the items you'd like to renew, then click the 'renew' button.

Other ways:

  • Check your account with the TCDC Libraries app.
  • Renew items by asking a staff member, sending us an email, or giving us a call with your library card number handy.

Be aware, you may not be able to renew some items; they may have been requested by another patron, reached their maximum renewal limit, or we may just need to confirm with you that you're willing to renew an item that costs to borrow. 

How can I return a book?

All items can be placed on our returns counters or slots inside the library, when libraries are open.

When our libraries are closed, return items through our book drop slots.

How do I pay a library fine?

You can pay in person at your library (we take cash and Eftpos, but not credit cards) or via internet banking.  Please let us know about your online payment so that we can remove the charge from your library account.

Click here for more information on our loan periods and charges.

What do I do if I have lost a library card?

Contact us immediately. We can issue a free replacement card.

 

How can I find out about programmes and events at the library?

Our libraries run a range of events every week. Sign up for our monthly Library eNewsletters or check our events calendar to see what's on. 

We also post updates about all of our upcoming events and programmes on our Facebook page.

 

How do I find out if the library has a specific book?

Search our online catalogue, download our TCDC Libraries app or ask one of our staff members.

How do I place holds online?

  • Log into your account via our online catalogue
  • Click the 'Log In' button in the top right corner.
  • Log in using your library card user ID (that's the number under the barcode on the back of your library card) and your password.
  • Click 'Place Hold' next to the item you want to reserve.
  • Choose one of our three district libraries to collect your book from. 
  • We will contact you when the book is ready to collect.

You can also check your account with the TCDC Libraries app.

Check our Library Charges page for more details.

If the item you want is only available at a Community Library, you may need to check with us to see if that library will lend that item.

 

How do I reset my library account password?

To reset your account password:

  • Go to our catalogue.
  • Click on 'Log In,' in the top right corner.
  • Select 'Forgot my PIN.'
  • Enter your library card number, and a recovery link will be emailed to the email address on file at your library.
  • If the email doesn't arrive within a few minutes, check your spam folder. If it's not in your spam folder, contact us.

If you have any problems, please contact your local library for assistance.

How do I suggest a book for the library to purchase?

We welcome suggestions of new books for our collection.  You can fill in a form in our libraries, or online.

What is a VIP Card, and how do I get one?

VIP Cards are loyalty cards for patrons who borrow new adult fiction, DVDs, talking books and kits. These items cost $2.50 to borrow.

Think of it like a coffee card - every time you borrow one of these pay items, you get one stamp on your VIP Card. Eventually, you'll have enough stamps to borrow one of these items free!

Ask our team for a VIP Card next time you visit us.