Borrowing
Find out about loan times, holds, and renewals.

Remember to bring your card when you visit the library. It is your ticket to borrowing books and media, using computers, and accessing library databases. Find out how to get a library card.

Frequently Asked Questions About Borrowing:

Regular cardholders may borrow up to 50 items at any one time.

Borrowing limits by category:
CategoryNumber of Items
Most library materials50
DVDs20
Superloan DVDs5
eBook & eAudio (Overdrive)10
Audio Read Along5
Storytime Kits3
Dash Robot Kits5
CategoryLength of Loan
Most books3 weeks
Magazines3 weeks
DVDs & CDs3 weeks
Tech-To-Go3 weeks
eBook & eAudio (Overdrive)3 weeks
Items With 5 or More Holds2 weeks
Superloans (Bestsellers)1 week
Book Club Kits6 weeks
Storytime Kits3 weeks
Chromebooks3 hours (in branch)

Borrowing materials from Surrey Libraries is free. However, if your materials are returned damaged or lost, fees will be applied your account. Read more about fees.

Return materials to any branch of Surrey Libraries, no matter which branch you borrowed them from.

You can also return materials from Surrey Libraries to other InterLINK public libraries in the Lower Mainland.

Place a hold to reserve a library item that is not currently available. You will be contacted when your item is available for pickup. When your hold arrives, bring the library card you used to place the hold with you to pick up. Holds must be picked up within 7 days of arrival. You can manage your holds from your online account.

You can have up to 35 holds on physical items at one time. Additionally, you can have up to 25 holds on digital items in Overdrive/Libby. You can use the "For Later" list in your online account to remember items you would like to borrow in the future.

Items can be checked out with staff at our Welcome Desks, or by using the self-checkout stations. Remember that hold items waiting for you in branch need to be checked out before you take them home. All locations have contactless self-checkout stations. 

Most items are renewed by our automatic renewal system on the due date. There is a maximum of 2 renewals for each item. Material will not be renewed if a there’s a request by another patron or if the item has reached the maximum number of renewals.  There are no renewals on Superloans, Superloan DVDs or Book Club Kits.  Items not renewed are due back by the return date. To manage your account and check due dates, log in to your online account or in your Surrey Libraries App.

Library fees can be paid for online from your library account or the Surrey Libraries mobile app. Fees are listed under “My Borrowing”. Contact the branch if you need assistance.

Check your own library record from home using a touch tone phone: 604-502-6333.
This service (Telemessaging) is available daily, except between 11:00pm Fridays to 4:00am Saturdays.

By phone you can:

  • Review a list of everything you have borrowed
  • Renew items you have borrowed
  • Cancel titles you have on hold
  • Review any fees on your account