Membership

How to get a card

While our branches are closed due to COVID-19, you can sign up online for a temporary card.

This card will allow you to immediately place holds through our catalogue, and you'll have access to all of our online resources.

When you place holds on physical material, library staff will be alerted and will complete your registration by phone when they call you to advise that your holds are ready for pickup. When you come to get your books, you'll also get your "real" physical card, welcome brochure, and more. 

You can use your library card at all five branches in the County of Brant Public Library system

Library card membership lasts for two years. You'll need to visit a branch to renew your account. There is no charge to renew expired cards, but we always welcome donations. Donations of $10.00 or more will receive a tax receipt.

Online-only cards

You can get an online card if you don't already have a library card by completing our online application. This gives you temporary access to our online collections and lets you place physical items on hold. To pick up your items, you'll need to get a regular card at one of our library branches. 

Lost cards

Please report a lost or stolen card immediately: call 519-442-2433.

Any items borrowed on your card are your responsibility until the card is reported missing.

It costs $2.00 to replace a lost card.

How many can I have?

No limits are placed on book material (we may limit the number of items on a single subject or by a single author).

• OverDrive / Libby titles are unlimited!
• 9 Hoopla items per month
• 15 DVDs at a time

Borrowing periods

You may borrow:

• Magazines: 1 week
• DVDs and video games: 1 week
• Gear and gadgets: 2 weeks
• High demand titles: 2 weeks
• Technology kits: 3 weeks
• Interlibrary loans: 3 weeks
• Book club sets: 5 weeks
• All other material: 3 weeks

As of January 1, 2020 we are fine free! We don't charge overdue fees for our own materials. This does not apply to items from outside library systems (known as interlibrary loans). You will still have to pay for lost items. Items are considered lost if they are more than 3 weeks overdue. Please remember to renew your items promptly!

Charges and fines for interlibrary loans

Overdue fines apply per open day:

• Interlibrary loans: $1.00 per day
• If you request an interlibrary loan but don't pick it up, you will be charged a $2.00 non-pickup fee.

Lost or damaged material

If we have to throw out an item because of damage, or if it is lost, you will be charged a $5.00 replacement fee as well as the cost of the item as follows:

• $9.00 for paperbacks
• $20 minimum for hard covers and DVDs
• $5.00 for magazines
• $40.00 minimum for video games
• $2.00 to replace lost DVD packaging
• Technology kit replacement fees vary by type of kit. Please ask staff about potential fees when you check out your item.

We have borrowing agreements with many of our neighbours. You can visit and get a membership at the following partner libraries:

• Brantford Public Library
• Cambridge Public Library (IdeaExchange)
• City of Waterloo Public Library
• Haldimand County Public Library
• Hamilton Public Library
• Norfolk County Public Library
• Oxford County Library
• Region of Waterloo Library
• Six Nations Public Library