Borrowing Library Materials

With a standard Talbot County Free Library card in good standing, you may have up to 50 items checked out at a time, including no more than 4 DVDs, 25 CDs or audiobooks, and 1 Playaway Launchpad. Teacher's Cards can be used for checking out up to 50 books. Other item types must be checked out on a standard personal card. Please bring your library card with you when checking items out.

Library cards can become temporarily “blocked” under certain conditions, which means the patron cannot check out additional items, renew current items, or use library computers, until the account problem is resolved. Situations in which a card may be blocked include an unpaid balance of more than five (5) dollars, an annual need to confirm or update current address, lost items, more than 20 overdue items, or more than 6 items overdue for longer than 51 days.

For information on getting a library card, see...

Loan Periods, Renewals and Fines

The following chart outlines the loan periods, renewals, and overdue fines applicable for the various types of library materials.

* Regardless of remaining renewals, an item can be renewed only if there is no outstanding hold request on it, and your account does not have an unpaid balance of more than five (5) dollars. As a courtesy, our system automatically renews expiring items that are eligible for renewal.

Renewing Items

Items eligible for renewal can be renewed through the My Account section of our online catalog, or by calling or visiting either of our library locations with your library card. If an item has not been renewed before its due date, and it is eligible for renewal, our system will attempt to automatically renew the item. Many items can be renewed once, for the same length of time as the original checkout. However, there are exceptions.

DVDs, Playaway Launchpads, Interlibrary Loan materials, and items borrowed on a special Teacher's Library Card cannot be renewed. Items that can fill an outstanding hold request by another patron, cannot be renewed. Items that are long overdue (more than 51 days overdue) cannot be renewed. If your library account is “blocked” for any reason, your items cannot be renewed until the problem with your account has been addressed. Situations in which a card may be blocked include an unpaid balance of $5 or more, an annual need to confirm or update current address, lost items, more than 20 overdue items, or more than 6 items overdue for longer than 51 days.

Returning Items

Items returned to the circulation desk at the Easton or the St. Michaels branch of the Talbot County Free Library can be received and removed from your account on the spot, no matter which branch the item was originally checked out from. Both branches also have book drops available to accept returns when the library is closed.

Because of reciprocal borrowing agreements, libraries throughout the state of Maryland can accept returns of each other's books. Be aware that books returned to a county library system other than the one where the item was checked out, may take some time returning there, before it will be officially checked in and removed from your account.

Fines and Fees

Overdue Fines - Items returned to the library after their due date will accrue fines according to the chart shown above (under Loan Periods, Renewals and Fines). In many cases, renewing an item before or after the due date may be possible, which will extend the loan period and prevent any additional fines from being applied until the new due date.

Other fees the library charges include the following:

Library Cards - New cards are free for Maryland Residents, with a $1 charge for replacement cards. Out-of-state residents can sign up for a library card for a $25 annual (?) fee.

Printing and Photocopying - Computer printouts are $0.10 per page for black and white or $0.25 per page for color printouts. Photocopies are $0.15 per page for black and white or $0.25 per page for color copies. The library does not offer a fax service. However, there is no cost when using the photocopier to scan a document and send it to an email address.

Out of State Interlibrary Loans - Interlibrary loans from libraries within Maryland are free of charge. Materials borrowed from outside the state of Maryland incur a $5 fee.

Lost or Damaged Materials - Full replacement costs will be charged for each item lost or damaged. The library does not accept replacement materials. In the case of Playaway Launchpads, the device replacement cost varies depending on the unit, but the cost to replace the charger is $10 and the cord is $7.

Returned Checks - A $25 fee will be charged for returned checks.

Service Charge for Material Recovery - If an account is past due for long enough to be sent to Unique Management Services, Inc. for collections proceedings according to our Materials Recovery Program described below, a $15 service charge will be added to the balance.

Materials Recovery Program

The Talbot County Free Library has established a materials recovery program to encourage library patrons to return books, DVDs, and other materials on time. Patrons who have long overdue materials and accumulated fines totaling $25.00 or more will be referred to Unique Management Services, Inc., a collection agency specializing in the recovery of outstanding library materials and funds.

When Items are 21 Days Past Due...

• The library sends you an overdue notice.

When Items are 55 Days Past Due...

• The library sends a final overdue notice that includes fines, fees and replacement charges.

When Items are 89 Days Past Due...

• If your account balance equals $25 or more, the library forwards your account to Unique Management Services, Inc., a library materials recovery agency.
• A service charge of $15 is added to your account.
• Unique Management Services will contact you to request the return of the overdue materials and payment of all outstanding charges.
• Over the next 120 days the collection agency will make multiple attempts to contact you. If you do not return the overdue materials and complete or establish a payment plan, your account will proceed to the stage listed below.

Note: Activity on a patron's account can alter the timeline.

If you have questions about your library account related to the Materials Recovery Program, please contact the Adult Services Librarian at 410-822-1626.

Thank you for helping us ensure that everyone has access to materials at the Talbot County Free Library.