Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join the library and how much does it cost?

If you are a Bruce County Resident, you can become a member free of charge by completing a library card application at any of our 18 Branch Library locations. You will need to bring with you a piece of identification that shows your name and current home address (e.g. current driver’s licence) in order to obtain a Bruce County Public Library Card.

Children under the age of 16 must have the signature of a parent or guardian to obtain a Bruce County Public Library Card.

Your BC library card will allow you to access your account on the online catalogue by signing in with your User Name (14 digit number under barcode on your BCL Card) and PIN (4 digit number assigned to you when you received your new library card).

Note – You will be able to change your PIN to one more easily remembered by accessing “My Account” on the Library Catalogue page. Enter your User ID and the assigned PIN and then click on User PIN Change and follow the requested steps to change to your new 4 digit PIN.

What are the borrowing limits, loan perods, late fees and fines on library books and other material?

There is no borrowing limit on books except on certain seasonal collections and school project materials. Some branches do limit the number of DVDs and videos that you can have out at one time.

Most items may be borrowed for 3 weeks with the following exceptions:
2 weeks for High Demand books
1 week for DVDs (some 3 week sets)

Renewals are possible and may be done by phone, in person, or on-line (unless someone else has requested the item you have out)

All Branch Libraries provide an after-hours book return.

Late charges are as follows:
$.25 per item per day for magazines, audiobooks, CDs, books
$1.00 per item per day for DVDs

Can I Place Holds Online?

The books you see in one branch library are only a small part of the Bruce County Public Library collection. Our library catalogue allows you to request a book or magazine when the item is checked out to another person or when the book is located in another branch library

1. Find the item you want to request in the catalogue then click Place Hold
2. You will be prompted to log in (using your library card number & PIN) if you have not previously done so. The Submit Hold window appears.
3. Select a branch library where you would like to pick up the item. Click Place Hold, then click OK.

You will be notified by telephone as soon as the material is available for pick-up.

Can I Renew items and check my Holds online?

Click on the link to the Library Catalogue, then on “My Account” and enter your User ID and PIN. This will enable you to see what you have on loan; what holds you have placed and where you are in the queue; what requests/messages you have sent and if you have had a reply. If you wish to renew your loans, click on “Renew My Materials” where you will be able to renew all items or select individual loans to be renewed by selecting “Renew Selected Items”. After completing this step, you will be able to see if the item was renewable and the new due date.

Why am I unable to renew my books online?

If you have any outstanding overdue materials or fines, the system will not allow you to renew or place a hold online. Check with your local Bruce County Branch Library Branch to confirm your borrowing status or pay fines.

I have checked the online catalogue and I can’t find the book I want, what can I do?

If our collection does not include the material you require, you can choose one the following three options by clicking on the I Need Material link on the Library Catalogue page. This link will supply you with the following choices:

• Request Material through Interlibrary Loan (ILLO)
  Complete the online Interlibrary Loan form with as much information as possible, e.g. Title, Author, Publication Date, Date needed by, Pickup Branch, etc. and if we are able to locate a copy in another library system, an ILLO will be placed on your behalf. You will be notified by telephone when the material is available for pickup at your designated Branch Library.Note: Bruce County Public Library is part of the information resource sharing network for Ontario Public Libraries, allowing patrons access to the collections of over 175 public libraries in Ontario, public and academic libraries across the country, the Ontario Archives, and Library and Archives Canada. The network is a partnership between the participating public libraries, Ontario Library Service-North and Southern Ontario Library Service with support from the Ministry of Culture.
• Submit a Request for Purchase
  If you can’t find a particular book that you are interested in reading and you think that the title would enhance our collection, submit as much information about the book as possible by completing the online Request to Purchase form and the will consider the title for purchase.
• Submit a Search Services Request
  If you are interested in or are researching a particular topic and cannot find material on that subject after searching the topic on our online catalogue, submit a Search Services request including details about the information that you require.

Where can I get recent magazine and newspaper articles?

Bruce County Library has a wide range of periodicals and newspapers available to the public at Branch Library locations. To find out what is available, simply search by the title and see which Branch the periodical is housed in.

We also have online databases that can be searched for periodical and journal articles. To access these databases, click on the database link on our home page.

If my local Branch library isn’t open, can I return my books to another Branch?

If you borrowed books from one location, they can be returned to any other Branch Library. We are part of a County-wide Library System which means that a Bruce County Public Library card entitles the holder to privileges at all of our 18 Branch Library locations.

How do I download Audio Books and eBooks?

On our home page click on Download Audio books or Download eBooks in the Quick Links window. This link will take you to the Ontario Library Service Download Centre. Follow the directions under the quick start guide to download and install the free software needed to access your Audio Book or eBook, search the site for downloadable materials, and when you find a title you’re interested in, add it to the Cart and check it out.