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Terms and Conditions of Library Membership
How to join the Library
Your personal details are required to sign up and you need to live, work or study in Havering. A child’s membership application must be completed by a parent, carer or guardian of the child. Please provide one current proof of your name and address and proof of signature from the list below:
• Current Council tax bill
• Utility bill dated within the last three months
• Driving Licence
• Medical Card
• Credit Card or bank statement within the last three months
• Current library card (if you are joining a child in your family)
• Havering council employee pass.
You will be asked to sign a membership card confirming that you agree to abide by library Terms and Conditions and that you will be responsible for any items borrowed on your or your child’s card.
PIN
A PIN will be issued to you at the time you join the library. This number will be required to use any of our PC’s or online services. PIN’s can be changed online at www.havering.gov.uk/libraries. It is your responsibility to ensure your PIN is not shared with anyone else, written on your library card or anywhere that would compromise the safety of your PIN. If you forget your PIN, you must provide proof of ID (see above) before it is re-issued. Always advise the library of any change to your contact details.
Types of Membership
• Under 5’s (0-4 years)
• Children (5-15 years)
• Young adult (16-18 years)
• Adult (19+)
• Foster carers
• Home Educated
• Housebound
• Visually impaired (proof of visual impairment will be required)
What happens if a membership card is lost?
• Loss of membership cards must be reported to prevent misuse, adults will be charged a replacement fee*.
• Proof of ID must be provided when applying for a replacement card. You can find acceptable ID under ‘How to join the library’ in these T&C’s.
What can I borrow?
• With your library card you can borrow up to 25 items of stock.
• Books are free to borrow. Spoken word and language courses can be borrowed for a small fee.* Registered visually impaired customers are exempt from this fee.
• E-books and audio books are available to download for free from our website at www.havering.gov.uk/libraries. You will need your library card number and PIN to access this service.
• Items may be borrowed from and returned to any Havering Library. They can also be returned to other library services within The Libraries Consortium (TLC).
• You are liable for all fines/fees on any card issued to you. You will be required to clear all debts before items can be borrowed.
How long can I keep borrowed items?
• Books, language courses and spoken word items are issued for three weeks.
• EBooks and audiobooks are loaned for up to 21 days.
• Items can be renewed in person, online** at www.havering.gov.uk/libraries, by calling the 24hr renewal line on 0333 370 4700** or by phoning a branch library (you will be given a renewal code as proof of your renewal). You will need your library card and PIN number. Usual loan fees apply for chargeable items.
• Borrowers can renew their items up to four times, after which the item/s must be returned.
• If you choose to be notified via e-mail a courtesy reminder will be sent three working days before your books are due to be returned. *See current fees and charges **If an item will not renew this is usually because there is a reserve on the item for another customer. To avoid incurring overdue fees, please call a branch to renew the item, where a renewal will be made for a few extra days.
What happens if a membership card is lost?
• Loss of membership cards must be reported to prevent misuse, adults will be charged a replacement fee*.
• Proof of ID must be provided when applying for a replacement card. You can find acceptable ID under ‘How to join the library’ in these T&C’s.
How to reserve items
• All lending stock in Havering Libraries and the TLC can be reserved.
• You can reserve stock at your library branch or online at www.havering.gov.uk/libraries
• Fees must be paid at the time a reservation is placed or if reserved online at your next library visit.
• Fees are non refundable if the item cannot be located after further investigation.
• We will contact you via your preferred method of notification, when the requested item has arrived at your chosen branch.
What happens if items are returned late or damaged?
• Borrowers are responsible for ensuring their books are returned by the due date. Books returned late will incur late fees.* Library access including use of PC’s will be suspended until all outstanding fines or fees are paid in full. Registered visually impaired customers are exempt from this charge.
• Children’s items borrowed on an adult card will incur adult fines if returned late.
• Borrowers are responsible for the care and safe return of all items in the same condition as they were borrowed and for this purpose they shall be judged to have been examined at the time of borrowing. Borrowers and guarantors are responsible for the return of all items and will be charged for the replacement of any stock that is lost or damaged. This is non-refundable. You will be entitled to ask for any or part of the item to be returned to you, once paid for, however, if you do not request this the item will be destroyed.
• Fines and fees are charged at the rates of the authority from which an item is returned or reserved. These may differ from the authority your membership is held at.
• Havering Library Service make every effort to collect all outstanding debt.
The Libraries Consortium (TLC)
Havering Libraries are part of the TLC and include the following Library authorities:
o Barking & Dagenham
o Brent
o Croydon
o Ealing
o Enfield
o Essex & Thurrock
o Hackney
o Hammersmith and Fulham
o Harrow
o Haringey
o Havering
o Hounslow
o Kingston-upon-Thames
o Lewisham
o Luton
o Merton
o Newham
o Redbridge
o Surrey
o Sutton
o Tower Hamlets
o Waltham Forest
• Your library membership entitles you to free book loans and internet access in all Havering Libraries and all of the libraries in the TLC.
• In order to help customers keep control of their loans, and not incur fines from several libraries we aim to provide only one card to customers who have membership with the TLC. If customers already have several cards we will suspend all but the first card from the system to avoid any confusion. This has been agreed across the TLC.
• Information may be shared with our partners in The Libraries Consortium for library related matters.
Use of library computers/Wifi
• Access to the internet, Wifi, scanning and Microsoft Office applications are free for all users.
• Sessions are booked in one hour slots. Time allowed varies from library to library.
• To use the public PC’s/ Wifi in the library you must have your library card with you and know your PIN. Children under 16 may only access the computers with their parents/carers permission.
• Printing is charged at current rates*. All printing will be charged for, so please check ‘print preview’ before confirming your printing.
• You are able to plug your laptop or device into an electricity socket in our libraries free of charge. N.B. the library will not be responsible for any damage caused to your equipment by using our services.
• Please ensure that you don’t leave cables trailing across walkways where other users might trip or fall.
• The PC’s are automatically turned off 10 minutes before the library closes. This cannot be overridden by staff so please ensure any work is saved to an external device before this time.
• For further policy and conditions see the Havering Library computer usage policy which is on display in all libraries or on our website at www.havering.gov.uk/libraries
*See current fees and charges
Children’s Library
• Children under 10 years old must be accompanied in the library by an adult of 16+ or a parent. If a child who is under 10 years old is left unaccompanied the library service will inform the police.
• Children in the library must be supervised at all times.
• Adults unaccompanied by children may only visit and use the facilities of the children’s library with the agreement of the library staff.
Code of Conduct
• Full meals and hot food are not permitted in the library. Acceptable food includes biscuits, crisps and packaged snacks. You may consume water and soft drinks in lidded containers. Food and drink should not be consumed near the computers. Please ensure you leave spaces clean for the next person.
• Customers will be expected to take mobile phone calls outside the main library areas so that other customers are not disturbed.
• Our staff are available during all of the usual opening hours and are there to assist you with any information you require, however our staff have the right to work in a safe environment without fear of intimidation. We reserve the right to refuse service to:
o Anyone who refuses to comply with the libraries Terms and Condition.
o Anyone who behaves in a manner which is anti-social, racist, homophobic, sexist or aggressive to staff or other library users.
• You are responsible for your library card. It should not be used by anyone else.
• Contravention of any of the above will result in your library membership being suspended.
• For the full version of our Code of Conduct, please visit our website at www.havering.gov.uk/libraries
Thank you. Your personal details will be stored on a computer and are subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR. The London Borough of Havering and/or its partner organisations will contact you to let you know about overdue items and reservations ready for collection, by your preferred method. If you have indicated you would like a pre-overdue reminder you will receive an email three days before your books are due. If you have indicated you would like to receive marketing from us, our newsletter will be sent out once monthly. We share your information with other organisations and authorities who are working in partnership with us to provide services. If you wish at any point to check on the information held by us regarding yourself or cancel your library membership, please contact your local library. A complete copy of our Privacy Policy and how we handle your information can be found on our website at www.havering.gov.uk/libraries or ask in one of our branches.