Library Card

• Holders of valid library cards issued by the Hong Kong Public Libraries, identity cards allowed for library purposes, or library cards/borrower's cards issued by the two former Municipal Council Public Libraries may borrow and return library materials at any public libraries in urban areas and the New Territories. A library card is not to be lent or transferred.

Borrowing Limit for Library Materials

• Each registered reader may borrow a maximum of SIX items of library materials together with accompanying library materials, or a maximum of TWELVE items of back issues of periodicals.

Time Limit for Borrowing Library Materials

• Library materials for lending may be borrowed for a period of 14 days.

Overdue Fine

• An overdue fine is imposed on each and every loan item and accompanying library material returned late.  The charge is $1.5 per day or part of a day for each loan item or accompanying library material borrowed from an adult library and $0.5 for that borrowed from a young adult or children's library.

Renewal of Library Materials

• Unless already reserved by another reader, each loan item may be renewed for up to five consecutive times with a period of 14 days for each renewal.
  

• Library materials can be renewed in person, by telephone, or through the Internet.  Since the loan item may have been reserved by another reader or cannot be renewed for other reasons, it is recommended that renewal by telephone or through the Internet be made at least one working day before the due date to allow time for the prompt return of the loan item in case renewal is unsuccessful.
  (A 24-hour renewal service is available by telephone on 2698 0002 / 2827 2833 or through the Internet at http://www.hkpl.gov.hk)

• The new due date is calculated from the day the item is renewed irrespective of the original due date. A new loan period of 14 days applies and will not be extended even if the item is renewed earlier.

• All loan items which cannot be renewed should be returned to the Hong Kong Public Libraries by the due date. Borrowers must pay the fine for all overdue loan items.

Reservation Service

• Each registered reader may reserve a maximum of six items of library materials. A reservation fee of $2.50 will be charged for each item. Once an item is successfully reserved, the reader making the reservation is required to pay the reservation fee no matter he collects the item or not.

Issue of Receipts

• eaders are welcome to use  cards to settle the Replacement Cost of Lost Library Card, Overdue Fine, and Reservation Fee of Library Materials.  Receipts will be automatically issued by the Octopus payment system.  For readers who choose to settle the Replacement Cost by cash, receipts will be issued upon payment by the library staff.  For readers who choose to settle the Overdue Fine and Reservation Fee by depositing the exact amount of money into the coin box at the circulation counter, receipts will be issued only upon prior request.

• For readers who use the self-help photocopying service and require a receipt, please inform the library staff before using the service.

* Please refer to the 'Libraries Regulation' for the regulations of using various library services.