Terms and Conditions

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 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 Greenwich 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. First replacement cards are free for Adults aged 18 and over but subsequent replacement cards are subject to a replacement fee. All other categories of membership card are replaced free of charge.

All members must immediately notify a Greenwich 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 Head of Libraries 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 18 items, which consists of up to 8 books, 5 CDs and 5 DVDs.

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 Greenwich library.

Library members may borrow DVD/video recordings 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 Greenwich 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. Greenwich Council reviews the fees and charges every year, and the rates are prominently displayed in every library from 1st January.

Outstanding charges greater than £15 blocks renewals, prevent reservations being placed and suspends further borrowing until paid.

Lost or Damaged Items

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.

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 Greenwich 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 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.

As stated earlier membership cards cannot be transferred to anyone else.

You must comply with the Internet Access Policy for Greenwich 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 Greenwich Libraries if you access illegal, threatening, obscene, racist or pornographic sites.

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.

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, newspapers and magazines can only be consulted inside the library and may not be borrowed. All periodicals are either filed or recycled after use.

You must hand the library’s copy of any newspaper or magazine which you are reading to library staff within ten minutes of being told by a member of library staff that the title is required by another person.

For selected periodicals staff may retain your library card as a security against theft, this will be returned upon receipt of the periodical.

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

Use of all Greenwich libraries is subject to byelaws made under Section 19 of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

The current byelaws are available HERE