Checkout Limits, Renewals, Overdue Materials & Fees
The Pratt Library does not charge fees for overdue Pratt-owned materials. Find information about Pratt Library checkout limits, renewals, overdue materials, and additional fees.
Checkout Limits & Renewals
You may check out 30 items per library card at a time.
The library now provides automatic renewal for your materials. Most materials will renew up to three times as long as they are not on request for another customer. See our list of frequently asked questions on automatic renewals to learn more.
Lucky Day materials are currently available for checkout at select branches. These items are non-renewable, non-holdable, and have shortened loan periods.
All materials except interlibrary loans can be returned to any public library in Maryland.
Renewal Limits & Restrictions
30 item limit, 3 week load period, may be renewed
30 item limit, 14 day loan period, may not be renewed
Hoopla and Kanopy: 10 items per month. Overdrive: 10 checkouts at a time.
Customers may choose a 7, 14, or 21 day loan period for non-Lucky Day items, which are checked out for 14 days with no renewals.
Dgital magazines are unlimited and do not count against the borrowing limit.
Mobile hotspots can only be checked out by people 13 years and older, and tablets can only be checked out by people age 10-19.
Both mobile hotspots and tablets are limited to one device each per account. There is a 3 week loan period, and they may be auto-renewed up to 3 times if there are no holds.
3 week loan period, the device will automatically renew once if there are no holds
3 week loan period, will automatically renew up to three 3 times if there are no holds
3 item limit, 3 week loan period, may be renewed
10 item limit, 3 week load period, may be renewed
10 item limit, 1 week loan period, may be renewed
3 item limit, 5 day loan period, may not be renewed
10 item limit, 1 week loan period, may be renewed
2 item limit, 3 week loan period, may be renewed
10 item limit, 3 week loan period, may be renewed
10 item limit, 3 week loan period, may be renewed
1 item limit, 3 week loan period, may be renewed
10 item limit, 3 week loan period, may be renewed
10 item limit, 3 week loan period, may be renewed
10 item limit, 3 week loan period, may be renewed
30 item limit, 3 week loan period, must be renewed in person
30 item limit, 3 week loan period, must be renewed in person
30 item limit, 3 week loan period, may only be renewed twice
30 item limit, loan period varies by lending library, may not be renewed
Overdue Materials & Fees
The Pratt Library does not charge fines for overdue items. The Library strives to provide equal access to information, services, and opportunities, and fines are a barrier to that access. Eliminating that barrier opens doors to all in our community to utilize the resources the Library offers.
Materials that remain overdue after 14 days will be assumed lost and the library account will be referred to a collection agency if the account balance is $100 or more. Fees will be removed once items are returned in good condition.
While all Pratt-owned materials will no longer have overdue fines, materials that are obtained through Inter-library Loan are borrowed from other libraries (noted as Marina and OCLC on a white band on the book) are still subject to fines. The charges are as follows:
- Interlibrary Loan Items on Adult Cards: 20 cents per day per item; maximum fine $6.00 per item
- Interlibrary Loan Items on Children's and Young Adult Cards: 10 cents per day per item; maximum fine $3.00 per item
Lost & Damaged Materials
If materials are lost, a replacement with an exact, new copy of a lost library item plus a $6.00 processing fee may be accepted, provided it meets library standards. For example, if the damaged/lost item is a hard cover then the replacement must be a hard cover as well.
If materials are damaged, the following fees apply:
- Books that can be repaired: $10.00
- Books lost or damaged beyond repair: Full replacement cost of item, plus $6.00 processing fee
- Audio and Video/DVD: Full replacement cost of item, plus $6.00 processing fee (this fee also applies to lost or damaged items/sets)
Additional fees apply for the following items:
- Lost Library Card: $2.00
- Media Case: $10.00
- Best & Next Shipping Case: $2.00
- Lost or damaged Chromebooks (all pieces plus processing fee): $405.99
- Chromebook and power adapter/cord: $379.99
- Chromebook carrying bag: $20
Get a Library Card
Access all that Pratt has to offer with a standard library card, available to anybody who lives in Maryland.