Not sure how to search and select books and media in our catalog? Check out this short tutorial!
Not sure how to access ebooks, audiobooks and streaming videos? Check out this short tutorial! OverDrive and Hoopla Tutorial (video)
A current library card is needed in order to check out materials. If the library card is not in your possession, materials may be checked out with photo identification.
All circulating materials may be borrowed by cardholders for three (3) weeks (21 days), except for DVDs and magazines which check out for seven (7) days.
The following non-print items may be checked out as follows:
DVDs 10 per card
Books on CD 10 per card
Total items checked out may not exceed 100 per card
A receipt received at checkout serves as the official notice of the due date for an item or items. Customers with outstanding fees over $10.00 will not be allowed to check out additional materials.
Information for applying for a Chattanooga Public Library Card can be found on our Get a Library Card page.
Customers may place up to 30 hold requests on circulating items. 10 of these holds may be DVDs and 10 may be CDs.
Holds can be requested online within a catalog search or over the phone.
Items are held for seven (7) days. If the item is not picked up within the time allotted, the hold is canceled and the item is returned to circulation or fills the next hold in the queue. In order to check out the hold item, the customer must present the library card on which the hold request was made. No pickups will be allowed without the originating card. If a customer presents the card that originated the hold, check-out will be allowed even if the cardholder is not present at the time of pick-up.
At the close of business on the item’s due date, overdue fines will begin to accrue at $0.10 per item, per day. Overdue fines are capped at $10.00 per item.
Youth materials are exempt from overdue fines. Items for ages 0-17 (Board Books, Easy, Vox, Juvenile, Young Adult, and Noise Closet items) are now fine free, as of January 13, 2025.
If an overdue item is not returned in 45 days, the item will be considered “lost.” Replacement costs for the materials will be applied to your account. Replacement costs will be waived if items are returned within 365 days from their original due date.
Different overdue fines may apply to non-traditional Beyond Books items, such as the Tool Library.
You can also renew your checked out items on our website or by visiting a library location. Materials may be renewed up to 99 times, with the exception of materials with existing holds.
Items damaged beyond normal wear and tear, including purposefully defacing or
destroying library material, are the responsibility of the customer. Fees for damaged
materials will be the replacement cost plus processing fees for the material.
If a lost items are returned within 365 days from their original due date, replacement costs will be waived.
Still have questions? Visit our Contact Us page!
