FAQs

You can get a library card for free by visiting any of our branches, you just need to bring two forms of identification with you and one of these must have your name and current residential address on it. If you are under 18 years of age you will need a parent or guardian to sign for your membership with their identification. Alternatively you can join online and have your library card posted to a valid postal address. For more information about library membership check out our Become a Member page or phone or visit one of our branches.

We welcome membership from people who live, work and regularly travel in the Newcastle region. We require that applicants submit their current details including; name, age, address and email address to receive membership.
Individuals residing overseas are not eligible to join the library online due to the licencing agreements we have with our database and digital collection providers.
 

You can use your library card to borrow from any of our nine Newcastle branches, access a full list of hours, locations and contact information on the Our Branches page. In addition to this your card can also be used at Port Stephens and Dungog libraries, please visit their individual council websites for hours, locations and contact information.
 

To find out what you can borrow, how long you can have items for and what other services and resources your membership gives you access to visit the How To: and Our Collections pages.
 

Newcastle Libraries does not charge overdue fees to our members.  However, fees will apply if you damage or lose items.  Please see our Library Fees & Charges page for a full list of our current fees.
 

You can renew items checked out on your library card up to three times, as long as no one else has placed a hold on them. High demand items such as popular fiction and HSC study guides are listed as Popular Items and cannot be renewed. You can renew your items at your local branch, online, on our Newcastle Libraries app or by phone: 02 4974 5300.
 

You can borrow from our branches without your library card if you have another form of identification with you, such as a drivers licence, pension card, or other photo ID. If your library card is lost or stolen you need to report it to us and replace it within a month to continue accessing our services.

Your PIN is assigned when you join the library and is set to 1234. You can change your PIN by logging into your library account online. Your PIN needs to be numeric only, please do not use any letters or other characters. If you do this will prevent you from logging into your account via the Newcastle Libraries app.

If you forget your PIN you can use the 'Forgot PIN' option to reset it via email. Otherwise you can request a reset by contacting one of our branches or send us a request online.

You login to your library account through our online catalogue. To login click on My Account and enter your library card number and PIN. Once logged in you can view what you have borrowed, renew your items, change your PIN and reserve items in our collection to pick up at the branch of your choice.

You can renew your items in person, over the phone or online. One renewal per item is allowed, provided the item isn’t reserved by another member.

You can place a hold on an items that are out on loan and available in the library. You can do this in person, over the phone or online. To reserve an item online you must login to your library account then search for the item, once you have found the items record you click the 'Place a Hold' button and then nominate the branch you want to collect it from. If you need any further assistance please phone or visit one of our branches or submit an online enquiry.

If we do not have a copy of an item in our collection that you wish to borrow you can submit a purchase suggestion online or you can do this on your next visit to one of our branches. Please check our catalogue first to make sure that we don't have a copy of the item you are after. Each request will be considered in line with our Collection Development guidelines.

You can search for items we have in our collection online by using our catalogue. You can search by title, author, keyword, subject and more, and limit your results by format, branch, publication date and so on. If you need assistance using the catalogue you can access the catalogue User Help Guide, submit a request online or phone one of our branches.

If your library card is lost or stolen please contact one of our branches as soon as possible to report it missing. The fee to replace your library card is $5.70 however you may use identification for up to one month before you are required to purchase a new card to access our services.

To change or update personal details on your library account you will need to visit one of our branches. If you changing something like a phone number or email you can simply provide this to us and we will update it for you. If you have had a change of name or address you will need to provide us with identification such as a drivers licence, pension card or rates notice. If you are not sure what identification to bring with you to make these changes please phone one of our branches or submit a request online and we will be happy to assist.
 

You can find the opening hours of all our library locations by visiting our Hours & Locations page. For more detailed information you can select your branch from the Our Branches page.

We offer a variety of programs and services for all members of our community. To find out what's happening at your local branch or to view the full range of our programs and exhibitions visit our What's On page.

Our branches house a variety of community spaces available to book, for more information concerning costs and availability see our new online portal MyMonitor, check out the Our Spaces page or contact us on P: 02 4974 5303 E: library@ncc.nsw.gov.au 

Yes, all of our branches have computers available for public use. Newcastle Libraries is proud to offer newly upgraded computers for our members and guests! From early August 2019 there will be a range of computers available including upgraded desktop PCs and Mac desktops across all of our branches.

You can book a computer in advance via the MyMonitor portal if you are a member or if you are visiting our libraries and are not a member you can still use a computer using a guest ticket for up to an hour per branch per day. You can print a guest ticket out from a kiosk and use the code to log into an available computer.  We require guests to register some details in order to access free internet so that we can continue to offer a safe online environment. 

For more information see the Using our Computers page.

Yes, all of our branches  provide free access to WiFi within the library. For more information about our WiFi network and how to access it see the Our Facilities page.

Black and white and colour printing and photocopying is available at all of our branches, Fees and Charges apply. You can send print jobs straight from your device, on the go or even from home via the MyMonitor portal. Scanning is available at most of our branches and is free of charge.

Check out our Print/Copy/Scan page for more information about these services and the MyMonitor portal, account set-up etc.

No, unfortunately we don't offer JP services at our library branches. To find a local JP you can use the NSW Justices of the Peace Register.

If you are researching your family history, need information for an assignment or your homework, or just want an answer to a question we can help. Our expert staff can provide assistance in finding relevant resources in our collections, both in print and online. You can submit a request for assistance online or phone or visit one of our branches.

Yes, some of our branches have collections in languages other than English as a permanent part of the collection or on loan from the State Library of NSW (SLNSW). To find out what is available contact your local branch to enquire about their community languages collection. If we don’t have items in your preferred language we can order a temporary loan of selected items from the SLNSW on your behalf. Any orders placed are subject to the availability of items and SLNSW policies and guidelines.

You can find a list of the costs that may be incurred in using our service on our Library Fees & Charges page. This page also has a link to the current City of Newcastle's complete Fees and Charges schedule should you require further information.

To borrow from our range of eBooks visit our Read page in our online collections portal, the eLibrary. To access and download eBooks you will need a compatible device or PC with the correct software and apps installed. If you need help getting started have a look at our Help page to access beginner's guides, app help and more.
 

Yes, you need to be a member of Newcastle Libraries to access our eLibrary. This is due to our licensing agreements with the providers of the resources in our eLibrary which protect the copyright of the owners of the works. To join the library you can visit any our branches, please read the How to: page for further information.
 

If you are having problems using our eLibrary have a look at the Help pages in our Read and Listen collections to see if they answer any of the questions you may have. If you are still experiencing problems or have any unanswered questions you can submit a request online or phone your local branch library.
 

Unfortunately at present the Kindle cannot access Newcastle Libraries's eBooks. This is a licensing issue with Amazon and is beyond the control of library staff. The list of devices compatible with our eBooks includes most other eReaders on the market as well as the Kindle Fire, Apple and android tablets, smartphones and PCs.