Borrowing Items
Patrons with West Vancouver Memorial Library cards may have up to 100 items checked out at any given time.
Self check-out stations are located in the Main Hall and in the Youth Department. For staff assistance, please take your materials to the Help Desk. You will need your Library card number with you. If we have your email address, we will remind you when your borrowed materials are due—three days in advance! To ensure you receive our circulation notices by email, please add circulation@westvanlibrary.ca to your list of pre-approved senders.
Renewing Items
Provided there are no holds on items, you may renew items you have checked out up to the maximum number of renewals by logging into your account online, by calling Circulation at 604.925.7404 (have your WVML card number ready) or in person.
If your item is approaching its due date and it has no holds on it, we’ll automatically renew it for you and send you a notice with the new due date.
Placing Holds
A hold places you on a waiting list for an item if it is not currently available. You may also place a hold on an item that is available, if you would like it to be put aside for you. You may place a hold online, in person, or by calling us at 604.925.7403 (be sure to have your WVML card number ready.)
We will email you when your hold is available for pick-up. You have 7 days in which to pick up your requested item at the Holds Shelf next to the Circulation area.
There is a $1 charge for holds that are not picked up.
View, cancel, or temporarily suspend your holds by logging into your account and clicking on On Hold.
Returning Items
You may also return books, DVDs, videos, and audiobooks to any Interlink public library. If returned by the due date, you will not be charged for the transit time.
When returning to Gleneagles or Interlink libraries, allow up to two weeks for your account to reflect that the items have been returned to WVML.
If there are no holds on your item and it hasn’t reached its renewal limit, we’ll automatically renew it for you. The due date will be extended according to our loan periods. If there is a hold on your item, we’ll send a due date reminder. Once the due date has passed, we’ll send three overdue notices, and after 28 days, we will consider the item to be lost and bill you for its replacement.
Fees & Charges
As of May 3, 2022, WVML no longer charges daily late fees on our materials. We do still charge for items borrowed from other libraries through interlibrary loan. These items have an overdue fee of $0.35 per day with a maximum of $10.
Lost or non-returned items will be charged at full replacement cost plus a handling fee. If you accumulate over $20 in charges for lost or damaged items, your library account will temporarily be blocked from borrowing. Please come talk to us at the Help Desk if that’s the case so we can discuss your options. Once you pay for the replacement of a lost item, we are not able to provide a refund if you later find that item. A cost assessment will be made for damaged items. Please visit the Help Desk should you have any concerns about the condition of your borrowed material.
We accept payment by cash, cheque, or credit card (VISA, MasterCard, or American Express). All payments can be made in person. Payments by credit card may be made online by logging into your account.
Borrowing FAQs
If there are no holds on your item and it hasn’t reached its renewal limit, we’ll automatically renew it for you. The due date will be extended according to our loan periods. If there is a hold on your item, we’ll send a due date reminder. Once the due date has passed, we’ll send three overdue notices, and after 28 days, we will consider the item to be lost and bill you for its replacement. If you accumulate over $20 in charges for lost or damaged items, your library account will temporarily be blocked from borrowing. Please come talk to us at the Help Desk if that’s the case so we can discuss your options.
WVML no longer charges daily late fees for overdue items. We will still charge for holds that are not picked up within seven days ($1) and for items that are lost or damaged. Items borrowed from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan are still subject to late fees.
Reducing the financial barrier of late fees furthers our mandate to support everyone in our community.
Many other libraries in Metro Vancouver have removed late fees and have reported no drops in return rate, borrowing, or library membership. When we previously removed late fees from youth materials (2015) and large print materials (2017), we saw no drops in circulation or return rates.
Borrow from Other Libraries
Loan Periods
| Adult Materials | Loan Period | Renewals |
| New Books | 14 days | 1 |
| New DVDs, Holiday DVDs, Magazines | 7 days | 1 |
| All other materials (*see Special Materials exceptions below) | 21 days | 4 |
| Youth Materials | Loan Period | Renewals |
| Youth Books, Magazines, CDs (Music and Audiobook), Technology Kits, E-readers | 21 days | 2 |
| All other materials (*see Special Materials exceptions below) | 21 days | 1 |
| * Special Materials | Loan Period | Renewals |
| Brain Health Collection | 21 days | 2 |
| Lucky Day Collection (Youth) | 21 days | 0 |
| Lit Circle Kits (Youth) | 42 days | 2 |
| Radon Energy Meters | 42 days | 2 |
| Chromebooks | 84 days | 1 |
| Orchestra Scores | 180 days | 0 |