Terms and Conditions

These rules may be reviewed and/or altered at any time. We will use reasonable endeavours to inform Members of material or significant changes to the rules as far in advance as possible with notice of any significant change displayed in our libraries

Library membership is free.

For full library membership proof of name, address and signature must be presented to a member of library staff.

For temporary membership – 1 month’s People’s Network (PN) access and limited borrowing – proof of signature is required.

For children’s membership a parent or guardian must present either a valid library card or proof of name, address and signature.

Each member will receive a card with a membership number and a separate personal identification number (PIN).

You will require your membership card to borrow an item or use the PN

Membership cards cannot be transferred to anyone else.

Lost membership cards must be reported immediately to any Wandsworth Library. The cardholder, or the parent/guardian responsible for a child’s membership, remains responsible for the return of any item borrowed prior to such notification.

A replacement membership card will be issued on application. Identification is required. Replacement cards are free for ages 0-15, and 65 and over. Members aged 16-64 will be charged a replacement fee.

All members must immediately notify a Wandsworth Library of any change of name, address or contact details so that the record of membership can be amended. For changes to name or address the library card and proof of the change (E.g.: marriage certificate, utility bill, driving license, etc.) will need to be presented to library staff.

The Librarian-in-charge is entitled to withdraw the membership of any person who fails to comply with any of the membership rules, or who commits an offence against byelaws made under Section 19 of the Public Libraries and Museums Act, 1964 as amended by the Council.

All library members may borrow up to 50 items, which can be any mixture of books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks or language courses at any one time

Most items may be borrowed for an initial period of three weeks except for those items where special restrictions apply, particularly DVDs

Items may be borrowed from and returned to any Wandsworth library.

Hire charges for audio-visual items must be paid when the item is borrowed according to the published scale of charges and exemptions.

The removal of any item from a library without confirmation that the loan has been recorded on the library computer system will be regarded as theft and in contravention of Byelaw 7 – see Byelaws for Wandsworth Libraries for more details

Sets of vocal scores and plays may, with the consent of the Librarian-in-charge, be counted as one item. The supply of music and drama sets does not grant permission to perform the work in public: where necessary this should be sought from the rights-holder.

Library members may borrow DVDs subject to payment of the appropriate hire charge, provided that they are not below the age specified by the classification on the recording.

These classifications are part of the Video Recordings Act 1984. You may be required to provide additional evidence of your date of birth before you borrow a DVD/video recording.

Sound or video recordings borrowed from the library must not be copied or used for public performance.

GLL accepts no liability for damage allegedly caused to any audio or playback equipment as a result of playing audio-visual recordings borrowed from Wandsworth Libraries.

There is no charge to borrow books provided they are returned or renewed before the date given for return.

There are some hire, late return and other charges, which must be paid as they are incurred. Wandsworth Council reviews the fees and charges every year, and the rates are prominently displayed in every library from 1st January.

Outstanding charges of greater than £5, or any charge outstanding for more than 720 days, block renewals, prevent reservations being placed and suspends further borrowing and use of Public Network computers until paid.

For borrowers aged 18-64 there is a charge to reserve items available on the catalogue. There is a charge to reserve any item not available on the catalogue for all borrowers.

Reservation charges are non-refundable

Library members are responsible for the care and safe return of all items in the same condition as they were in when borrowed, and for this purpose shall be judged to have examined all items at the time of borrowing. If an item is returned in a damaged state and is no longer suitable for further lending the full replacement cost will be added to the member's library account

Library members, or the parent/guardian responsible for a child’s membership, are usually required to pay the cost of replacement of any item which is not returned to a Wandsworth Library, or which is returned in a damaged condition.

You are advised to return all items and to explain any concerns about the charge for damaged or lost items to the Librarian-in-charge to prevent further charges being added to your account.

You must obtain a valid library membership card before you can use a public access computer in a Wandsworth Library

Public access computers are designated as either ‘Adult’s’ or ‘Children’s’ computers

Children’s computers are located in the Children’s library and are for the use of customers aged 15 years or younger. Adults are not allowed on Children’s computers, but a parent or guardian may assist a child on a Children’s computer

Adult's computers are located in the main library and are for the use of customers aged 16 years or older

As stated earlier membership cards cannot be transferred to anyone else

You must comply with the Internet Access Policy for Wandsworth Libraries

You must not transmit to or download from the Internet any material in violation of any laws. This includes, but is not limited to, material subject to copyright, threatening, obscene, racist or pornographic material, or material protected by trade secret

You must not use public Internet access in public libraries for any commercial purposes

You will be prevented from further use of public access computers in Wandsworth Libraries if you access illegal, threatening, obscene, racist or pornographic material

A child's parent/guardian is responsible for the child's access to the Internet and for monitoring and exercising control over sites visited – library staff do not exercise this control

You are recommended to register online to receive emails to tell you if your books are overdue or your reservation is ready for collection

Reservation notices are sent as soon as the requested item reaches the collection branch you have chosen and are free of charge

Overdue e-mail notifications are generated at 1 day before the items are due, 14 days overdue and 28 days overdue. E-mail notification is free.

Overdue text and phone call reminders are sent at 14 days overdue and 28 days overdue. Text and phone reminders are free.

Debts of over £25 will be passed to a debt collection agency 31 days after being generated. An additional charge of £8.75 will be added to accounts referred in this way

The parent or guardian responsible for a child’s membership, retains responsibility for material borrowed on a child's ticket.

Children remain the responsibility of the parent or carer at all times.

Children aged eight or under must never be left alone in the library

Parents and carers should never leave children unsupervised in a library

Adults unaccompanied by children may only visit and use the facilities of the Children’s Library at the discretion of the Librarian-in-charge, and must leave the Children’s Library when requested to do so

Reference books can only be consulted inside the library and may not be borrowed.

Photocopying or computer printing may be produced in accordance with copyright laws and payment of the relevant fee

Searchroom guidelines are on display in the searchroom and must be followed to ensure the preservation of fragile and unique documents and publications

The removal of any archive or local history material from the searchroom is not permitted and will be regarded as theft

Deliberate or continued mishandling of archive or local history material will result in access to archive and local history material being withdrawn

The supply of copies of archive or local history material does not grant permission for the reproduction of archives and local history material in publication either in print or online

Use of all Wandsworth's libraries is subject to byelaws made under Section 19 of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 by The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Wandsworth. The current byelaws were revised and confirmed by the then Government's Secretary of State for National Heritage with effect from 5 July 1996 – see Byelaws for Wandsworth Libraries for more details