Account services and fees

Getting a library card

Any resident of California is welcome to apply for a library card to access the wealth of resources offered by the Menlo Park libraries and the Peninsula Library System. 

  • To apply for a card, fill out the online form and you will receive a temporary barcode number.
  • Bring your temporary barcode number along with your photo ID and proof of your current residence address (PO Box not acceptable) to the library front desk and you will be issued a card.
  • Examples of acceptable forms of documentation include: Driver's license; passport; utility bill; lease or rental agreement; piece of postmarked mail
  • There is no age limit, but if you are under 16 you will need to bring a parent or guardian to provide proof of address.

Apply for a library card

My library account

Once you have your library card, you can log in to the library catalog website in order to:

  • View and renew your item checkouts
  • Place, pause, and cancel holds
  • Opt in to remember your borrowing history going forward

To get started, visit the library catalog website and login with your barcode number and PIN.

Borrowing limits and lending periods

With a Menlo Park Library card, you will be able to check out up to 50 items at a time. Loan periods for most items are 1-3 weeks. Items borrowed from the Menlo Park libraries can be returned to any other library that is part of the Peninsula Library System in San Mateo County, and vice versa, unless the item is a LINK+ loan. LINK+ items must be returned to the library where they were checked out. 

Item auto-renewal

Eligible items are automatically renewed 48 hours before they are due. You will be notified by email of item due dates and renewals. Even with auto-renewal, library patrons are ultimately responsible for returning borrowed materials on time.

Your library items will not be automatically renewed if: 

  • Another patron has placed a hold on the item
  • The maximum number of renewals (5) has been reached 
  • It is an item from the Quick Pick collection or another collection that is not renewable (eg., equipment such as laptops or wifi hotspots)
  • Your library card has expired or has a balance of $50 or more

Holds and inter-library loans

With a Menlo Park Library card, you can request items from the catalog to be held for you to pick up at the library location of your choice. Holds may be fulfilled by items from any Peninsula Library System location. Up to 25 items can be requested at a time. Holds that are marked “Ready for Pickup” in your account have arrived at your pickup location and will be available for 10 days. The hold period is not extendable. Days the library is closed are not counted as part of the hold period.

If you wish to borrow an item that is not available in the Peninsula Library System catalog, it may be available through LINK+ interlibrary loan. 

Adult residents of Menlo Park are able to request items through the LINK+ catalog to be picked up at Menlo Park libraries. If you are not a resident of the incorporated City of Menlo Park, you may be able to borrow LINK+ items through your home jurisdiction. View a list of LINK+ member libraries here.

See a step-by-step tutorial on how to place a hold using the LINK+ catalog.

Fines and fees

The Menlo Park libraries have gone fine free! This means that there are no overdue fines on any items owned by the Menlo Park libraries. However, items that are more than 30 days overdue are automatically billed for replacement as the system will assume they are lost. If you return an item that has been billed, the replacement fee will be waived as soon as the item is checked in.

The replacement fee for lost or damaged library materials includes the price of the item plus a $5 processing fee. 

Payment for lost items is non-refundable, even if the item is found at a later date. The Menlo Park libraries do not accept patron-supplied replacements for lost items. 

LINK+ items may incur late fines of $1 per day, depending on the owning library’s policies. LINK+ items that are lost or damaged may incur a charge of up to $115 per item. Please contact the Help Desk by email or call 650-330-2520 if you have lost or damaged a LINK+ item so that staff can contact the owning library and determine next steps.

Text message notices

Text message notifications are available through Shoutbomb, which is offered to all Peninsula Library System libraries.

  • Text the word SIGNUP to (844) 213-4252 or pls@shoutbomb.com
  • When you receive a reply asking for a library card number, reply with your library card number
  • When you receive a reply asking for a PIN, reply with the PIN to your library card account

You will now receive text messages alerting you of holds, overdues, renewals, and new fees on your account. You can opt out of any or all of these alerts. You can also renew eligible items through the service, check your fees and fines, and add multiple cards to your notification account.

Visit the PLS text alerts page for more information including a full list of available commands. Standard text message rates may apply.

Telephone access (Telecirc)

Call the automated voice system anytime at 650-638-0399 in order to:

  • Hear fines and fees
  • Hear if items are currently being held for you
  • Hear titles and due dates for items you have out
  • Renew eligible items

For live help by telephone, call the library Help Desk at 650-330-2520 during library hours.

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