Borrowing Materials

Learn the basics of borrowing from the library including where to return materials and how many items you can check out at once.

Borrowing Limits

Arlington Heights cardholders may have up to 100 items checked out at one time (not counting eBooks and eAudiobooks). 

If you are using a registered card from another Illinois library, you may have up to 40 items checked out on your card. Some items are limited to Arlington Heights cardholders.

Item-Specific Borrowing Limits

eBooks/eAudiobooks on cloudLibrary

Five at a time/10 holds

eBooks/eAudiobooks/eComics on hoopla

10 per month (all formats combined)

eReaders

One of each type

Music albums on hoopla

10 per month (all formats combined) 

eVideos on hoopla

10 per month (all formats combined) 

eVideos on Kanopy

30 tickets per month (individual videos vary)

Loan Periods

One Week

  • Blu-rays & DVDs with three discs or fewer
  • Kids' World holiday books, CDs, Blu-rays, DVDs
  • Library of Things
  • Magazines
  • Music albums on hoopla
  • Seasonal items (bike locks, snow brushes, umbrellas)
  • Studio equipment
  • Video games 

Two Weeks

  • Blu-rays & DVDs with four discs or more and adult TV series
  • Kids' World toys, games, STEM kits
  • Music CDs
  • New & Popular books with fewer than 500 pages 

Three Weeks

  • eBooks on cloudLibrary & hoopla
  • eMagazines on Libby
  • eAudiobooks on cloudLibrary & hoopla
  • eComics on hoopla 

Four Weeks

  • Audiobooks
  • Books: Non-New & Popular and over 500 pages
  • eReaders
  • Shopping baskets 

Other

  • Book discussion sets: 6 weeks  
  • eMagazines on Flipster: 2 days/varies
  • eVideos on hoopla & Kanopy: 2-3 days
  • Laptops for in-library use: 2 hours 

Returning Items

Library items may be returned at the library, the bookmobile or at the book and media returns at the Arlington Heights Senior Center, Camelot Park, Heritage Park or Frontier Park. Items are picked up from the book and media returns on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Renewing Items

Library items are due by closing time on their due date. Eligible items will automatically renew on their due date. Items with holds or those that have already reached their max renewals are not eligible for automatic renewal.

  • Most items without holds may be renewed up to four times. 
  • New & Popular and Library of Things items without holds may be renewed once. 
  • Hot Picks are not renewable. 
  • Interlibrary loans are not automatically renewed; renewals can be requested here. 

Sign up for email reminders by visiting the My Account page and adding your email address under Borrowing Notifications Email.

Paying Replacement Charges & Fees

Pay Online

  • Log in to My Account.
  • Click the amount owed by "Late Charges" on the right-hand side.
  • Follow the instructions to complete your payment (all major credit cards accepted). 

Pay In-Person

Main Library

  • Payments accepted at the Checkout Desk or at the Self-Checkout Stations.
  • Cash, personal check and all major credit cards accepted.

Bookmobile

Cash or personal check accepted.

Senior Center

Payments accepted only at the Self-Checkout Station. 

Fine Free

The library does not charge late fees for overdue items. Please refer to Policy 5.003 Circulation for more information.