Borrowing

Cardholders can borrow books, DVDs, audiobooks, CDs, and graphic novels.

In addition, patrons have access to our digital collections and may download eBooks, audiobooks, magazines and music.

Always refer to the checkout receipt for the due date of each item. 

Fines & Fees

Materials from the Lakeland Public Libraries can be checked out for free with a valid library card. Effective October 1, 2022, cardholders will not be charged any overdue fines for Lakeland Libraries' materials that are returned past their due dates. Items borrowed from other Polk County Library Cooperative libraries may still accrue fines if returned late. 

If you accumulate a balance of $10 or more from overdue or lost item fees from other Polk County Library Cooperative libraries, your account is blocked from borrowing additional physical items from any library until the account balance is below $10.

More information is available about fine-free Lakeland Libraries and Frequently Asked Questions.

Overdue Items

If an item owned by one of the Lakeland Libraries is seven (7) days overdue, the Library sends a notice by phone, email, or SMS reminding the patron to return the item. At 30 days overdue, the item is considered lost and the Library sends a notice by phone, email, or SMS that the account is being billed for the replacement cost of the item(s).

If you have a bill for a lost Lakeland item and return that item in good condition, no money is owed. The replacement fee is automatically removed from the account and there are no late fees. If the overdue Lakeland item is not returned or is returned in damaged condition, the patron will owe the replacement cost of the item. If that cost is above $10, the account will be blocked until the item is returned or payment is made. Payments for patron accounts are accepted at each library's checkout desk or pay online when you log into your account.

Requesting Materials

• Circulating materials not available at your branch library can be requested and delivered to any of the Lakeland Library locations. They can also be mailed to your house through Lakeland Books by Mail or the Polk County Library Cooperative's Books by Mail program.
• A notification will be sent when the item arrives and it will be held for the next seven days that the pickup branch is open.
• Requests can be made in a branch library, by calling a branch library or through the online catalog.
• There is a limit of 200 active holds per library card.
• To cancel your request you may log on to your library account online and cancel the hold on your “Requests” page.
• Select items that the library does not own may be requested through the InterLibrary Loan program.

Lakeland Books by Mail

• Requested items can also be mailed directly to your house for free if you live in Lakeland. Non-Lakeland addresses can use the Polk County Library Cooperative's Books by Mail program.
• Choose Lakeland Books by Mail as the pickup location for your holds or contact library staff and let them know you would like your materials mailed instead of made available for pickup.
• Items mailed through Lakeland Books by Mail are shipped for free but return shipping is not included. Items can be returned to any Polk County Library Cooperative library location.

Self-Serve Holds

• Pick up your requested items and skip the checkout line with self-serve holds
• Requested items are available for pickup at each Lakeland library location on designated self-serve hold shelves.
• Locate your item(s) by checking the first four letters of your last name and last four digits of your library card number on the receipt. 
• All items are already checked out to you and ready to grab and go.

Renewing Materials

• Items can be renewed up to 2 times if no other patrons have requested the item.
• Eligible items may be renewed by visiting or calling any of the Lakeland Library locations, the electronic phone renewal service (863)534.0854, (863)534.0046 or you can manage your account online.
• Patrons with expired library cards or fines of $10 or more will not be able to renew materials and will have their library card privileges suspended.
• HotSpots are able to be renewed one time if not on request.

Automatic Renewals

• Any physical library item eligible for renewal will now auto-renew one (1) day before its due date. The new due date will be based on the original due date of the item and the loan period for that item.
• Users with email library notices will receive a courtesy notice to let them know the item(s) has successfully renewed. If an item does not auto-renew, users with SMS text or email library notices will receive a courtesy notice that the item did not renew and is due the next day. **NOTE: At this time, there is no phone message system for auto-renewal notifications.**
• All library cardholders are already signed up for automatic renewals. For more information, visit or contact your local public library.

Returning Materials

• Library materials checked out at any branch library can be returned to any Polk County Library Location, book drop or mobile library.
• InterLibrary Loan items must be returned in person to one of the public service desks at any branch library.
• HotSpots must be returned at the library location they were checked out at.

Lost or Damaged Materials

• Cardholders will be charged replacement costs for any lost or damaged materials as well as for materials that are returned incomplete.
• Damaged material is evaluated to determine the severity of damage, and whether it can be repaired or needs to be replaced.
• Lost or damaged items belonging to libraries other than the Lakeland libraries will be examined by the owning library. 

Reciprocal Borrowers

• Non-Polk County residents who live in our reciprocal borrowing area can register for a PCLC library card using their home library card and ID.  
• Reciprocal library card accounts are not eligible to borrow hotspots or the culture pass.