Libraries - how to join
You can visit any library in the Rochdale borough area to read
books, newspapers or magazines; ask for information; use the
Library Online computers; or, for example, use the photocopier,
without being a member of the library.
If you wish to take books, videos, CDs or cassettes home you
will need to join. Joining the Library is free.
All of our libraries are now on a computerised lending system.
Your computerised library card (one with a barcode) is valid at all
our computerised libraries, not just the one you joined!
Joining the library
Anyone of any age who lives, works or studies in the Rochdale
borough area can join the library.
You can join at any of our libraries by simply filling in a
registration form. If you are under 14 your parent or guardian will
need to sign your membership form to say that it is okay for you to
borrow books and audio materials from the library.
You will be given a single card that looks like a credit card
with a barcode on it. You will need to bring this card every time
you visit the library as items cannot be borrowed without it. You
can use your ticket at any library, not just the one where you
joined !
From 10 March 2008 you can now join the library by telephone
by ringing 0845 121 2976 for library renewals and
membership enquiries.
Advisors will be available to deal with enquiries from 8am-8pm
Monday to Friday and 9am-5pm on Saturday.
Borrowing
Once you have your library card you can borrow books, videos,
CDs and cassettes immediately.
You can take out the following:
- Adults (anyone over the age of 17)
can take out up to twelve items, including up to four audio items
(CDs or cassettes).
- Young adults (between the ages of 14
and 17) can take out up to eight items, including up to four audio
items.
- Children (under 14) can also take out
up to eight items, which can include one Children's Story
Cassette.
- People who are blind or
visually-impaired can borrow material in Braille format and talking
books without charge.
- People who are deaf or
hearing-impaired can borrow subtitled videos.
- Adults who have registered to use the
Open for Learning computers can borrow up to two items from the
Open for Learning Collection as well as up to twelve other
items.
- Youth workers who have registered
with the Youth Service can borrow up to twelve items from the Youth
Work Resource Collection.
Keeping items
Most people can borrow books, CDs and cassettes for up to three
weeks at a time. Information videos and subtitled videos are
lent for seven days.
People who are housebound, blind or visually-impaired can borrow
items for up to six weeks at a time.
Renewing items
You can renew any item, so long as nobody else has reserved it.
If you can't come into the library you can renew items by telephone
or via our on-line renewal e-form. You can renew an item by
telephone or e-form up to five times before we ask to see it.
Please note: there is an additional hire charge if you renew
most audio items.
Overdue books
We will make a charge for a book, video, CD or cassette which is
overdue. The details of the charges are available in all
libraries.
If you have any overdue items, please either return or renew
them as soon as possible. If you can not come into the library you
can renew items by telephone or via our online renewal e-form. This
stops your fines building up and saves us sending you overdue
notices and charging you for the postage. If an item is more than
six months overdue and you do not contact us, we will assume that
you have lost it and we will send you a bill.
There are no fines for children and teenagers under 17 years of
age or for people aged 60 and over. We would nevertheless prefer
that you return or renew your books.