Renew, borrow and reserve items

Renewing items

How do I renew loans?

NB. When logging in, if your card number has an R at the beginning, do not type this in.

Please note: If you have fines of £10 or more on your account, you will not be able to log onto your account. Please contact your local library.

You may renew items up to 5 times. If you still want the items then you will need to return them to a library before they can be issued again.

You can also call in to any library in the Bradford district, or use our telephone automated renewal system.

With our automated service you can check library information and opening times, you can check your library account to see if you have any reservations and you can renew the items you have on loan.

To access your account all you will need is your Library Card Number and your PIN (Personal Identification Number).

To use our automated service just dial 01274 430094 and follow the instructions given.

What if I do not know my PIN?

PIN numbers are created using your date of birth. Your PIN is the first two digits of your date of birth and then the last 2 numbers of the year. So therefore if you were born on 16th May 2014, your PIN is 1614. Once you have logged in, then you can change to any PIN number under the Personal Information tab.

Borrowing items

What can I borrow?

You can borrow books, maps, DVDs, Audiobooks, e-books, e-Audiobooks and Playaway MP3s.

How many items may I borrow?

You can borrow up to 20 items at any one time. Children can also borrow 20 items. In all libraries you will be given a single ‘credit card’ type ticket which you will need to present each time you borrow material. All libraries use the computerised library card.

What about E-Books, E-Audiobooks and Electronic Magazines and Newspapers?

These items do not count towards your 20 items. You can currently borrow 4 E-Books and 2 E-Audiobooks. You can also download as many E-Magazines and Newspapers as you like.

What happens if I return the items late?

There are no overdue charges (fines).

Customers will still be charged if items are not returned at all after 2 months (lost items).

Customers returning items borrowed before 1 July 2022 will still incur overdue charges.

How long can I keep them?

All book loans are for three weeks, with renewal possible as long as no one else is waiting for the book. CDs and DVDs are available in larger libraries. These can be hired on a weekly basis. You may renew items up to 5 times. If you still want the items then you will need to return them to a library before they can be issued again.

What if I lose my ticket?

There is a charge to replace lost tickets:

Children’s tickets: £1 (first lost ticket will be replaced free)
Adult tickets: £2
Adult tickets (concessions - Bradford Leisure Card and over 60’s) : £1.50

May I use other libraries?

You can visit any library in Bradford to borrow books and use their services. The ticket issued by your home library is valid in any of Bradford’s libraries. You can also return your items to any of our libraries, not just the one you borrowed the items from.

You can see a list of all our libraries here, with contact details and opening times.

Reserving items

How do I reserve an item?

You must have a Bradford Libraries card to reserve an item
There is no charge for reserving an item that Bradford Libraries already has in stock
Customers can choose which library they would like to collect the item from when reserving the item. Please make sure you pick a library to collect the item from

Reserve items now.