The Cambridgeshire Libraries service offers a variety of items to borrow and services to use, which are subject to our library byelaws.
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Joining Libraries
Anyone who is living, working or studying in Cambridgeshire or neighbouring counties, or visiting is welcome to join our libraries. This applies even if you just want to access our online resources. Membership is free.
How to join
- Complete the online form
Your library card will be posted to you. Please allow 10 working days for delivery.
- Visit any library
Aged 16 and above: need one document with proof of identity and address. Introductory membership can be given if no proof of ID is available.
Aged 12-15: need a guarantor proof of name and address, along with the completed joining form, signed by the guarantor. However, introductory membership can be given if you can show us proof such as a school homework book or bus pass.
Under-12s: need to be accompanied by a guarantor who must provide one proof of his/her name and address.
Information in other languages about joining the libraries can de downloaded at the bottom of this page.
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Borrowing and renewals
Your library membership allows you to borrow up to 12 items (full membership) or 2 items (introductory membership) from any one of our libraries. Our online catalogue lists all items held by Cambridgeshire Libraries:
- books and magazines
- music scores
- audio-visual items (DVDs, Blu-Rays, CDs, mp3 and audiobook cassetes)
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home energy meters.
Charges are applied for late renewals or returns.
Renewals
- Items can be renewed up to 3 times if no one requests them. Borrowing charges apply on some items.
- Items renewed before 11:59 pm on the day of return will not accrue fines. See charges for late renewals.
- Please contact us if you wish to renew books and music scores.
Borrowed items can be returned to any library in Cambridgeshire, including mobile libraries except for inter-library loans which need to be returned to the library from which they were picked up.
Drop boxes for out-of-hours returns are available at:
Most items are available to borrow free of charge. Charges and regulations may apply to some audio-visual, inter-library loans, music score sets, and group loans items. Items may also be requested.
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Library notices and reminders
The library services will send the following emails to customers with a registered email address:
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E-newsletter
- sent monthly to customers who want to receive news, events information, and promotions. Sign up to the e-newsletter.
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Renewals reminder - sent to customers whose book loans are due for return shortly (4 days later). Please note that we do not send reminders for items on loan for periods less than 3 weeks.
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Reservation available notice - sent by email to customers whose reserved items are ready for collection.
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Overdue notice - sent by email (or post if the customer has no email address) at intervals after loans have become overdue.
All library emails, other than e-newsletters, will be sent from the email address cambridgeshire@spydus.co.uk and will have the subject line 'Cambridgeshire Libraries'. Please do not reply to this email address.
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Concessions
Concessions are available for:
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Over-60s
- reduced hire charges for audio books or language courses on tape, CD and mp3
- overdue, lost and replacement charges including charges for DVDs and CDs apply as usual
- require an official document to prove date of birth
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Housebound
- if you have mobility or health problems, or have caring responsibilities, you can be registered as a housebound library member
- the concessions apply even where a friend or relative delivers your library items
- your items will be given a three-month loan period
- no hire or overdue charges will be made for audio-visual materials (charges will be made for loss or damage)
- we can arrange for a volunteer from the Library at Home Service to deliver and collect
- require a letter from your doctor or social worker confirming that you cannot get to or from the library without help
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Difficulty with books
- if you are unable to use books because of visual impairment, dyslexia or some other condition you can be registered for this service
- no hire or overdue charges for audio books, CDs, DVDs or CD-ROMs (charges will be made for lost or damaged items)
- three free pages of black and white printing per day
- require proof such as CVI (Certificate of Visual Impairment) or BD8 (Blind or Partially Sighted certificate), certificate or letter from your doctor or optician or a letter from your social worker confirming your difficulty or condition
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Skills for life students
- you can be registered for the concessions listed under Difficulty with books, above
- this does not apply to language school students.
- require a letter from your tutor as proof
- concessions will no longer apply when students have completed their course
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Group loans
We offer free loans of all the lending book stock held in the Cambridgeshire Libraries to community groups in order to help support local life long learning.
The loan period is 4 months. Books are issued to the secretary of the group, or appointed person, who is responsible for their distribution and return to the library. For full details, download the group loans document.
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Inter-Library loans service
The Inter-library loan service is available when you can't find the books you want in Cambridgeshire libraries. We can also request a journal article for you, for private study only.
For a journal article, you will need to complete both a request form and the copyright declaration form before we can submit your request.
Each request costs £5, and the process can take up to 6 weeks or longer. For more details, download the inter-loans document.
Submit an Inter-library loan request here
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Music score sets
Choirs or other music societies may register with Cambridgeshire Libraries in order to hire score sets. Music sets from our own stock are loaned free, but there are charges for those borrowed from another library service.
For full details on music scores available, download the music scores sets document.
To register as a music society please download and complete the music society registration form.doc and e-mail it to interloans@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or call 01223 718381.
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Library byelaws, rules, and regulations
All libraries are required to display their Byelaws, Rules and Regulations as approved by the County Council. Please read:
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