Borrowing Policies

Your Washington County Cooperative Library Services library card is your key to over one million items ranging from books, magazines, music and spoken tapes and CDs, videos, DVDs, non-English language materials, story kits, passes to local cultural destinations, and more! In addition to all of that, cardholders may also access a variety of indexes and full-text magazines, newspapers, and reference sources online.

Generally, cardholders may borrow up to 100 items at a time. However, certain types of materials have special limits. For example, cardholders may only borrow up to 25 DVDs and 25 CDs at any given time.

Most books and audio items are loaned for 21 days, most videos and DVDs for 7 days, and Cultural Passes for 24 hours. Other special materials may have different loan periods.

Refer to your check out receipt provided when you check out materials for a list of each item and when it is due. If you don't have your receipt, you may also review a list of all items checked out on your card and when they are due:

• By phone: Call 503-846-3245 any time, 24 hours a day. Be prepared to enter your library barcode and password when prompted.
• Online: Visit any time, 24-hours a day through the WCCLS catalog. Click on Patron Account and enter your barcode number and password to access your information.
• In Person: Ask a librarian for assistance at any WCCLS library.

Cardholders in good standing may renew most items for two additional loan periods if other library users are not waiting to use the materials:

• By phone: Call 503-846-3245 any time, 24 hours a day to renew your items. Be prepared to enter your library barcode number and password when prompted.
• Online: Visit any time, 24 hours a day through WCCLS catalog. Click on Patron Account and enter your barcode number and password to access your information. View a list of Items Out and select the items you wish to renew.
• In Person: Renew items at any WCCLS library.

Certain conditions prevent item renewals, so don't wait until the last minute to renew.

Most items have a fine of 15 cents per day for each day that the item is overdue up to a maximum fine of $5.00.

Videos, DVDs and most 7-day loan materials have a fine of $1.00 per day for each day that the item is overdue up to a maximum fine of $5.00.

Special items may have different fines applied. Cultural Passes, for example, have a fine of $10.00 per day for each day that the pass is overdue up to a maximum of $30.00. Ask your library if you have a question about a special item.

Cardholders will be charged replacement costs and a processing fee for lost items, and may also be charged for damages to items borrowed from the library.

Borrowing privileges are suspended on accounts with $10.00 or more outstanding in fines and fees.

WCCLS notifies cardholders by phone or mail when items are overdue. Bills are sent when items are overdue for 25 days. Be sure to pay fines and return materials promptly to avoid referral to a collection agency. Cardholders may also monitor their account:

• By phone: Call 503-846-3245 any time, 24-hours a day. Be prepared to enter your library barcode and password when prompted.
• Online: Visit any time, 24 hours a day through WCCLS. Click on Patron Account from the homepage and enter your barcode number and password to access your information.
• In Person: Ask a librarian for assistance at any WCCLS library.

Return materials to any Washington County Cooperative Library Services member library. The WCCLS Courier delivery system will return them to the owning locations.

A notable exception to this are the Cultural Passes to Adventure which must be returned to the lending library.

Each WCCLS member libraries has individual policies regarding applying for a library card. Contact your local WCCLS library for details. In general, you will need a piece of identification showing that you reside in Washington County.

We have application forms that you can print, complete, and bring to your local WCCLS library with your identification. Or, you can fill out the form at the library

• Application form—English (PDF)
• Solicitud de Tarjeta—Español (PDF)

You may also register for a temporary card online by clicking on the option to "register now." Registering online allows you to request items before you receive your library card. You can then pick up your permanent card and check out your reserved items when you visit the library.

Live in the metro Portland area?

Residents of some neighboring counties may also obtain a WCCLS library card without a fee through the Metropolitan Interlibrary Exchange (MIX) agreement. This agreement says that if you work in one county, shop in another, and go home to yet another, you can use any library that you find convenient. Residents who live in Multnomah, Clackamas*, or Hood River counties in Oregon, or reside in the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District or the City of Camas in Washington, may obtain a WCCLS library card without paying a non-resident fee. And Washington County residents, in turn, are eligible to obtain library cards without fee at any of the public libraries in the systems listed above.

Most of Clackamas County’s cities voted to participate in (and fund) a new Library District of Clackamas. However, residents of Damascus and Johnson City declined to participate in the LDC, and no longer have MIX library privileges. Tualatin also declined to join the District, but is discussing with Clackamas County the option to do so. For more information, please see http://news.wccls.org/2009/06/clackamas-county-library-district.html.

Live outside of metro Portland and Washington County?

If you reside outside of Washington County or any of the MIX jurisdictions listed above, you may obtain a WCCLS non-resident library card for an annual fee of $95. This entitles you to use the collections and services of any WCCLS member library. (WCCLS non-resident cardholders are not included in the MIX agreement).