Using Your Card

For the most convenient service, always bring your card to check out materials. If you forget your library card, you may provide photo identification instead.

Use of your card signifies that you have read and agreed to the library’s current policies, detailed below.

Checkouts

You may check out up to 100 items (including up to 10 DVDs and 10 Playaways) on your card at one time.

Overdrive, Hoopla, and other digital items do not count towards the 100-item limit. Checkout rules for some cards (Educator Cards, Non-resident - Limited Cards, Courtesy Cards, etc.) may differ.

Returns

You may return materials to any Nashville Public Library location or bookdrop. 

Renewals

Renewals are easy. We automatically renew eligible items, so you don’t have to.

Items will not be renewed when:

• The item is on hold for someone else.
• Your card is blocked for any reason.
• You have reached the maximum number of renewals allowed.
• Renewals are not allowed on the material (e.g., Lucky Day Collection titles, eBooks). See chart below for renewal information. 

About auto renewal:

• When your item is automatically renewed, you will see the new due date when you log into your account.
• You will not be notified if your automatic renewal is successful.
• If items cannot be automatically renewed, you will receive a due date reminder by your chosen method (text, email or phone).

You can also renew items manually by using My Account or by calling or visiting any library branch. Have your library card number and PIN handy. 

Holds

If an item you’re looking for is checked out to another customer or if the item is at another branch location, you may place a hold on the item and pick it up at your preferred branch. You will be notified by text, email or phone when the item is ready for pick up.

• Holds for physical material are limited to 25 items per account at any given time.
• Holds are held for 7 days for pick up at the designated library location.
• Holds are not transferable to other library cards.
• Holds on OverDrive are limited to 10 items and do not count towards the 25 item limit mentioned above for physical material. OverDrive holds are held for 3 days.

Overdue, Damaged, or Lost Items

There is no charge for items returned late. If you fail to return borrowed items, account limitations and fees may apply.

• Accounts with two or more billed items are not usable until only one billed item remains on the account.
• Replacement items are accepted only if they are new or like new. Books must be the same or newer edition than the material that was lost or damaged. They cannot be a used library copy. Non-book items must match the model or description in the catalog record. Please talk with a staff member to learn more about purchasing replacement materials before you buy.
• Delinquent materials and fees are automatically routed to an outside collection agency when the balance is $56 or more and at least one item is overdue by 52 days.
• Some services have administrative fees: routing to a collection agency, replacing electronic equipment, etc. If fees equal or exceed $9.99, accounts will not be usable.

Account Management Tools

Approved User and Linked Accounts are two tools that allow you to manage another person's library account. They work in tandem to give you online and in-person access to your account. 

Approved Users

You may add an Approved User to your account. An Approved User is an adult that can check out your holds, renew your materials, and pay fees on your account. You accept responsibility for all actions that occur as a result of this access.

Add an Approved User: 

• Visit any library location and ask for an Approved User form.

Remove an Approved User: 

• Contact any library location to remove an Approved User.

Linked Accounts

Linked Accounts is a feature that allows you to link your library account to another person's library account online. If your account is linked to another person's account, you may view and manage their account (view checkouts, place and cancel holds, borrow digital items). Unlike Approved User, it does not allow you to check out physical items on another account at the library.

A common use for linking accounts is to help families keep track of all borrowed library materials from one account.

Please note:

• The person linking the account must have the account number and PIN of the account to be linked. 
• When you link someone's account to yours, that person can see that the accounts are linked. 
• All users, except MNPS elementary and middle school students, may unlink accounts and disable account linking by updating settings in their account.

Link your account to someone else's:

1. Log in to your library account.
2. Click on your name in the menu bar to see account options. 
3. Select Linked Accounts.
4. Click Add an Account.
5. Type the library card number and PIN of the account to be linked.
6. Click Add Account.
7. The person whose account you are linking will get an alert in their account letting them know their account is linked to yours. 

Unlink your account from someone else's: 

1. Log in to your library account.
2. Click on your name in the menu bar to see account options. 
3. Select Linked Accounts.
4. You will see a list of all accounts that can view your account (all accounts that are linked to yours). In that list, click Remove next to the account link you want to remove.
5. You also have the option to disable account linking. 

Checkouts, Renewals, Fines

Books, CDs, DVDs

eBooks, eAudiobooks, eVideo

Specialty Items

*Items have additional borrowing rules.