When you get a Wichita Public Library borrower's card, you have immediate access to services that include checking out materials, requesting items to be held at the Library for pickup, using our public computers and Wi-Fi, searching our research databases, and so much more!

Returning Materials

Materials may be returned to any Wichita Public Library location, no matter where they are checked out. For your convenience, every location has a 24-hour material return.

Requesting Materials

If you find out that an item you want to borrow is not on the shelf, you can use our catalog to request that we hold it for you.

When your requested item arrives, we will notify you according to the preference you've given us: e-mail, text message, or phone call. Once you've received your notice that items are being held for you, please pick them up before the end of the reserve period. If you no longer need an item, contact the location holding the item to cancel the request and make it available for other people to borrow. For each request not picked up or cancelled, a $1 unclaimed fee will be charged.

You can suspend a request until a future date to prevent it from coming to you earlier than you'd like. This feature is great for:

• Managing items in a series to prevent them from arriving out of order
• When you're traveling and don't want your holds to arrive while you're away
• If you're unable to visit a library location for an extended period of time

Interlibrary Loan

If you are looking for a title that the library does not own, consider using the interlibrary loan service to borrow a copy from another library.

Checking Out and Renewing

You are responsible for all items checked out to your account. Do not let others borrow your library card. If your Wichita Public Library card is lost or stolen, notify the Library immediately so we can block it from being used. A replacement library card costs $2.

Self-check Machines

Self-check machines are available at all Wichita Public Library locations. Our machines and materials are equipped with RFID.

When you place an item on the self-check machine's scan bed (the white rectangle), the machine sends a signal to "awaken" the item's RFID tag and provides the power for the tag to respond with the item's barcode. The self-check machine relays that barcode to the library management system, which retrieves the title, checks it out, and generates a receipt.

Although the machine can reliably check out a large number of items at once, we recommend placing two or three on it at a time to make it easier to confirm that the machine successfully scanned your items.

Borrowing Limits

Non-Kansas residents with a borrower's card are limited to two physical items checked out at a time, while Kansas residents with a borrower's card are allowed more:

* No renewals
** Total physical checkouts cannot exceed 150 items. E-cards cannot be used to check out physical materials.

Renewing Your Checkouts

If you need more time with something you've checked out, you might be able to renew it. Except where noted, items may be renewed up to two times. Interlibrary loans and items that have a waiting list are not eligible for renewal.

The new due date is calculated based on the date an item was renewed. For example:

We now have automatic renewals. When your material is coming due, our software will look to see if the item is eligible for renewal. If so, the material will automatically renew with a calculation that takes the current due date and adds the full loan period.

E-books, E-audiobooks, E-magazines, and Streaming Video

Your Wichita Public Library card gives you access to numerous digital resources. This includes up to 8 combined e-books and e-audiobooks checked out at a time, unlimited use of e-magazines in the Libby app, and streaming video through Kanopy.

If you have a Wichita Public Library card, you might be eligible for a Kansas Library eCard, which provides additional access to electronic resources.

Fees and Lost Materials

We do not charge daily overdue fines. Instead, if an item is not returned within 30 days of the date it was due, the item is automatically declared lost and the borrower is charged for the price of the item.

Good Standing

Some services require a library card in good standing. Your account is in good standing when your balance is below $10 and there are no items more than 15 days overdue.

Library Card Associations

A card association grants another person limited access to your library account. This is typically used to allow a friend or family member to pick up your hold requests. An association also allows that person to pay fees, renew materials, and obtain a list of items currently checked out. The My Record page on the Library's catalog will show you a list of all the people associated with your account.

Starting an Association

Association requests may be made in person, by telephone, or online through our catalog. This will grant another person access to your account, but you will not have access to that person's account unless they also submit an association request.

Minors are automatically associated with the account of the adult who signs for their library card. The signing adult may allow additional adults to be associated with the minor's account.

Stopping an Association

Any adult may request to have an association removed immediately. Requests may be made in person, by telephone, or online through our catalog.