Information

Checkout Information

• Library materials will have a 4-week check-out period, with 3-week renewal periods.
• Most items can be renewed up to 5 times, except:
  • Items with holds and Lucky Day items – no renewals
  • Magazines, Maker Kits, STEAM kits, Launchpad tablets – 1 renewal
  • DVDs, air quality monitors, kill-a-watt devices, and videogames – 2 renewals
• The loan period for Book Club Bags is 2 months. (Already in a book club? Check out Books for Book Clubs)
• Items may be returned to any Corvallis-Benton County Public Library location. Bookdrops are open 24 hours.

Checkout Limits

These limits apply to a standard, full-service library card, but the limits may be different for some of the other types of library cards we offer (Classroom, Community, Passport, etc).

• 500 items total may be borrowed at one time, but some types of items have other limits that apply (see below).
• Book Club Bags: 20
• DVDs: 100
• Library of Things: 4
• Lucky Day: 2
• Magazines: 120
• Videogames: 4

Self-Check Stations

The self-check stations allow you to check out your own materials and provide you with a checkout receipt. (You also have the option of having receipts emailed to you.) There is also a Spanish language option.

Patron Loan History

Have you ever wanted to keep a list of what you have checked out in the past from the Library? Now you can! The Library’s computer system features the ability to turn this function on just for you. If you don’t like it, you can ask to have it turned off.

The information is accessible only to you from your account on the library’s web page.

FAQs on Privacy and your Loan History

1. Is My library record private? Yes, in most cases. The Library does not reveal details about your account to anyone without your permission. The only exception is if the Library were ordered to do so by a court. The Library can, of course, use your patron record to help recover overdue materials.

2. How often does the Library receive such court orders? Almost never. The library has not received any kind of court order for library records in many years. The Library has never received a court order under the USA Patriot Act. It is possible under a court order that the Library may not be allowed to tell you your records were released.

3. How much information about me does the Library have? We keep only enough information about you to ensure our materials are returned and to determine your identity. We have your library card number, name, phone number, address, email address (if you have given it to us), your date of birth (to differentiate among people with the same name). We have a record of what you currently have checked out, any materials for which you owe fines, and any holds you have. We do not have a record of materials checked out and returned, unless you have specifically requested that we keep your loan history on file.

4. Aren’t library records public records by law, since the Library is a public agency? Yes, but libraries are allowed to exempt information about patrons which allows specific materials and/or has their address or phone number. It is public information whether or not a person has a library card.