Borrowing Materials

You may check out up to 50 items at a time with your NYPL Card, including a maximum of 10 DVD and two videogame titles.

Library materials may be borrowed for the following lengths of time:

You are responsible for returning borrowed items on time, and for any fines and fees associated with overdue or non-returned items.  A receipt indicating the date due is issued with every item you borrow.

Please note that your Library card alone does not allow access to certain Special Collections; check with the appropriate division for details.

How do I request Library materials?

Using The Library’s online catalog, you may request up to 10 circulating items at a time to be delivered to the Library location of your choice.  You may also place requests with the assistance of a Library staff member.

All requests for Library materials are on a first come, first served basis and are subject to availability.

Using your Library account, you may cancel requests or change the selected pickup location until the item has been routed to the pickup location.

Once you receive notification that your items are available, you have 9 days to pick them up before they are returned to circulation. Please collect all items being held for you at once.

Library materials stored off-site and viewable only in designated Research Libraries may be requested through The Library’s catalog.  Learn more about access to off-site materials.

How do I renew Library materials?

You may renew circulating items up to five times provided no one else has requested them.  As long as your account is in good standing, eligible materials may be renewed:

• Online
• In person
• Through Self-Service Checkout
• Via The Library’s Automated Telephone Renewal Service: (212) 262-7444
• Via a call to your neighborhood library

When are materials considered late?

All Library materials must be returned on or before their due date.  Initial due dates are listed on receipts received at checkout.  Due dates extended through the renewal of eligible materials are available by accessing your Library account for renewals performed online or by phone or through new receipts issued for in-person or self-service checkout transactions.

Overdue materials may be subject to late fines.

Where can I return Library materials?

The Library offers universal returns; most circulating material can be returned to any New York Public Library location in the Bronx, Manhattan or Staten Island, except the Schomburg Center. Likewise, pickup of holds and payment of fines and fees may take place at any Library location with the exception of Schomburg.

Downloading from our digital collections

Cardholders have access to downloadable books, movies and music through eNYPL and other digital collections.  For additional information, visit eBooks, Music and Video.

Accessing Library databases

The New York Public Library offers access to many electronic databases on a variety of topics from the arts and humanities to science and technology available both in The Library and at home.  Many of these databases include full-text articles, audio and video content, and resources in languages other than English.

Please note that many databases that can be accessed from outside the Library will still require you to enter your Library card number and PIN.