Library cards are free for residents or property owners of the City of Oak Ridge. All you need to do to get one is to come to the library with a photo ID and proof of residency! If you do not live within city limits, library cards are an annual cost of $45 for a calendar year and is payable by cash or check. All new cardholders start on a trial basis with us for nine weeks. At the end of the nine weeks, if you have no outstanding overdue items or fees, your card will be renewed for two years.
There are no age restrictions for library cards, but if you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must be present to cosign for your library card.
Library cards need to be renewed every one-to-two years so that we can verify that we have the correct contact information. Resident cards can be renewed online, in person, or over the phone.
Borrowing Limits
| Item Type | Checkout Period | Limit per Card | Maximum Renewals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books, Audiobooks, Music CDs | 21 days | N/A | 2 (automatic) |
| Launchpads | 21 days | 1 | 0 |
| DVDs & Blu-Rays | 7 days | 6 | 2 (automatic) |
| Book Club Sets | 60 days | 1 | 1 |
| Wi-Fi Hotspots | 7 days | 1 | 0 |
| Laptops (in house use only) |
2 hours | 1 | 0 |
| Museum Passes | 7 days | 2 | 0 |
| Interlibrary Loans | 21 days | 3 | 0 |
| Seeds | N/A | 6 | N/A |
| Magazines | 21 days | 6 | 0 |
Borrowing FAQs
To check out items at the library, you can bring them to the main desk, Children’s Room desk, or our Self-Check kiosk in the main library.
For the first 9 weeks of your new library card, you are limited to having 6 items total on your account at a time. After the 9-week period, the limit of items you may check out at once is removed, with certain exceptions.
Your ability to check out items will be suspended if you have outstanding overdue items and/or if your account has more than $10.00 in fines.
Most items will be automatically renewed for you by our system twice, unless another patron has placed a hold on an item or you have an overdue on your account, so you do not need to worry about renewing them yourself. At the time of the renewal, you will receive an email or text message stating whether your items have renewed or if they are due back to the library. Books, audiobooks, music CDs, DVDs, and Blu-rays will automatically renew three days before their due date, unless they have already been returned.
If you would like to know when your items are due or if you have any fees, you can find out three different ways:
To find this information using your online account, you will need your library card number and PIN. Go to our catalog and log in using the button in the top right corner. Once you are logged in, Click on “My Account.” From here, you can track items checked out to your account, see if you have any fees, update your information, and more.
If an item you’re looking for is currently checked out, you can place a hold on it through our catalog or ask the front desk to place a hold for you. Placing a hold puts your name on a waiting list. When the item is returned, we’ll let you know that the item is ready for pick up at our Self-Serve Holds shelf. Items on the Self-Serve Holds shelf are arranged by last name. We will hold the item for you for seven days.
Items on the Self-Serve Holds shelf are not checked out to you yet. Take these items to the self-checkout or main desk before taking them home.
We have an indoor book drop located to your right as you walk into the main library and a drive-up, outdoor book drop where you can drop your items off on the go. If you are worried about overdue items, have a new card with a six-item limit, or are returning a Launchpad or Book Club Set, please bring them to a staff member at the main desk.
We do not accept replacement copies for lost or damaged items on your account. Instead, the item's cost and a processing fee will be billed to your account and must be paid by cash or check.
Contact the library as soon as possible if you have lost your library card. Library cards can be replaced for $4.
You and others you designate as able to use your card can check out items and access library services through your account. You are responsible for any lost or overdue items on your account, regardless of who checked them out. Designees must present your library card to be able to check out items/access services.