Loan Periods and Fines

An extended list of all library charges is available here.

ITEM TYPE	LOAN PERIOD	LIMIT	RENEWALS	DAILY FINE		MAXIMUM FINE
ITEM TYPE	LOAN PERIOD	LIMIT	RENEWALS	AGE 19+	AGE 14-18	AGE 19+	AGE 14-18
Books (catalogued)	21 days	*	2	$0.30	$0.15	$12.00	$6.00
Fast Reads (catalogued)	7 days	2	0	$1.00	$0.50	$25.00	$12.50
Books (paperback)	21 days	*	2	$0.30	$0.15	$8.00	$4.00
Fast Reads (paperback)	7 days	2	0	$1.00	$0.50	$12.00	$6.00
Book Club Sets	42 days	2	0	$1.00	$0.50	$12.00	$6.00
Books (Interlibrary loans)	21 days	*	0	$0.30	$0.15	$12.00	$6.00
Magazines	21 days	25	0	$0.30	$0.15	$5.00	$2.50
Zines	21 days	*	2	$0.30	$0.15	$5.00	$2.50
CDs (music)	21 days	10	2	$0.30	$0.15	$12.00	$6.00
CDs (spoken word)	21 days	10	2	$0.30	$0.15	$12.00	$6.00
CD-ROMs	21 days	2	2	$1.00	$0.50	$12.00	$6.00
Quick View DVDs	3 days	2	0	$1.00	$0.50	$25.00	$12.50
DVDs	†	15	2	$1.00	$0.50	$12.00	$6.00
† Movies & Children's: 7 days. TV Series & others: 21 days
Group Language Learning Sets (including DVDs)	21 days	2	2	$0.30	$0.15	$12.00	$6.00
Video Games	7 days	2	0	$1.00	$0.50	$12.00	$6.00

Note: Fines and limits listed are subject to change

*Card Limits

The maximum number of library items on loan at one time is 50. New borrowers may have a maximum of 10 items on loan at one time during the first four months after getting a card.

Additional Charges

Non-pickup of holds: $1.00
Non-pickup of out-of-province interlibrary loans: $5.00
Charges for lost or damaged materials that have been catalogued will include a processing fee of $12.00. This fee helps to cover the costs of replacing a library item.

Lost Cards

Protect your library card as you would your credit cards. Lost or stolen cards must be reported immediately. Anything taken out on your card is your responsibility until the card is reported missing. The charge to replace a lost card is $2.00.

Borrowing Privileges

You are responsible for all the materials borrowed on your card and for any charges on items that are overdue, lost or damaged. Unpaid fines and fees may be turned over to a collection agency.

A borrower who has more than 10 items overdue, fines over $10.00, owes more than $10.00 in lost or damaged material, or has more than five items they claim to have returned but which the library has not located, will lose all borrowing privileges until their account has been brought below these limits.

Cards for Children and Youth - 18 Years and Younger

We do not charge fines to children, but we do encourage them to use the library responsibly. When they reach 14 years of age, they will have their own youth card. Daily and maximum fines for youth aged 14 -18 are half the regular fines.

Adults may not borrow material for their own use on a child or youth library card. Parents are responsible for activity on a child's card until the child is 19 years of age.

Renewing Materials

You can renew materials at any VPL branch, or 24 hours a day via our automated telephone service (Telecirc 604-257-3830) or our website ("My VPL"). However, if the item is due that day, you must renew before closing to avoid overdue charges.

Returning Materials

Library materials should be returned before closing time on the due date. Fines are charged seven (7) days per week, including days the library is closed. Any material returned through the return slot will be treated as returned on the last day the library was open.

Materials may be returned to any other public libraries in the Lower Mainland that are part of InterLINK, but cannot be cleared from your record until they reach VPL. Interlibrary loan materials must be returned to VPL.

Email Notification

If you give us an email address, you will receive email notifications when your requests are ready for pickup, and overdue notices when material is a certain number of days overdue. Otherwise you will be contacted by phone or mail.

All borrowers who receive VPL email library notices will also get email reminders two days before items are due, so that they can return or renew their items before fines apply. Please note that failure to receive reminders from VPL will not excuse borrowers from late charges.