Loans & Renewals

Library materials have a loan period of three weeks or one week; see the summary below. We also allow extended vacation loans; please ask at the adult checkout desk.

Most materials may be renewed once; see the summary below. There are no renewals, however, for new items or for items on which there are holds. You may renew items online, with LARK telephone messaging at (360)312-9037 (have your card # handy), or by contacting us by phone.

The Library reserves the right to limit the number of items checked out.

Materials may be returned to either the main library in downtown Bellingham or to the Fairhaven branch, to any branch of the Whatcom County Library System, or to the Meridian, Sehome or Barkely Haggen grocery stores in Bellingham.

Overdue Materials: After a two-day grace period, all adult library materials are charged an overdue fine of 25¢ per day until the maximum fine is reached. All children's materials are charged an overdue fine of 10¢ per day after the two-day grace period. Uncollected fines/fees of $50 or more are referred to Unique Management, a national collection agency that works with libraries to resolve outstanding balances.

Loan Periods

There is a 50¢ charge to adults for holds not picked up.

No renewal for items on reserve.
* 2 week loan period for items with multiple reserves.
**Children's videos and cd's are limited to 5 each.
***Children's DVDs are limited to 2.
† All DVD & VHS with holds check out for 1 week.