Books, magazines, DVDs, and a variety of other items can be checked out for free with your Irvine Public Library card.

Borrowing limits, loan periods, and renewals

Material Type	Loan Period	Renewal (if no holds)
Books, Audiobooks, Magazines, CDs. DVDs, Read-along Books, Technology	21 Days	Five
Lucky Day materials	14 Days	None
Library of Things	21 Days*	Five
Digital Items	Varies be resource	Varies by resource
Interlibrary Lians (ILLs)	Determined by lending institution	Determined by lending institution

Where to return library checkouts

All items may be returned to any Irvine Public Library branch location. [link to Hours and Locations page] Bookdrops are available for after-hours returns of standard library materials. Items from the Library of Things collection must be returned directly to a library staff member during operating hours.

Automatic renewals

Item checkouts will automatically renew up to 5 times if not on hold for another patron. If the item is on hold, it must be returned by the final due date.

Courtesy reminders of due dates will be sent to the email address on file. Cardholders are responsible for materials checked out on their card whether or not they received the notification. 

Items kept out three weeks after the final due date are considered lost.

A fine-free library

The Irvine Public Library is pleased to be a fine-free library; there are no charges for overdue items. In the case of lost or damaged items, replacement costs and processing fees still apply. 

Description	Price
Lost / Damaged Materials	Cost of Item + $5 processing
Lost / Damaged Components	Replacement cost + $5 processing

What to do if you lose a library item

Please inform the library as soon as possible if you think you have lost an item.  

When an item is lost, the borrower will be charged for the full cost of the item plus processing fees as described above. Please note that the library cannot accept donated items as replacements for lost items. The user’s library card will be blocked until the lost material is returned or fees have been paid. No refunds will be given for items returned after they are paid for. 

Interlibrary Loan

The library recognizes that borrowers may at times require access to materials that are not held in the Irvine Public Library collection. Irvine residents with a Standard card may request an item from another library by contacting IPL staff by phone or in person. The library cannot guarantee fulfillment of all requests.

Irvine Public Library does not charge a fee for interlibrary loan services. Loan periods, fees, postage, and other usage restrictions may apply depending on the policies of the lending library.

For more details on Irvine Public Library’s guidelines for borrowing items, see our Circulation Rules for Library Materials.