Fees and Charges FAQs

  • Library Fees

    The Library does not charge overdue materials fines or for replacement library cards. However, any lost or damaged items still incur replacement fees. Replacement fees for books, CDs, and DVDs are the cost of the item if known, $25 if unknown, plus a $10 processing fee. Replacement fees for kits and equipment is the cost of replacement plus a $10 processing fee. The replacement fee for magazines is $5. The replacement cost of LINK+ items are determined by the lending library, not to exceed $115 per item, including processing charges.

    You can borrow from the Library if the fees and charges total is under $10 and you have no lost items on your account.

    Special Fees either replace older charges associated with borrowing activity or were posted to a Library card account for a special reason. Library staff will be able to provide detailed information about these fees.

    The original charges and fees for items that have been removed from the Library collection may be replaced with manually created Special Fees representing the following:

    • Lost and damaged charges
    • Processing fees associated with a lost item

    Special charges and fees may be manually created for one of the following reasons:

    • Lost or damaged items
    • Missing parts
    • Returned check fees
    • Material Recovery late fees

    A returned check, also known as a bounced check, occurs when a payment made by check cannot be processed due to insufficient funds or other issues (e.g. an account is closed). When this happens, the check is sent back to the depositor, and additional fees may apply.  

    What happens when my check is returned?

    • The County’s Auditor’s Office informs the library that the check has been returned.
    • The check amount is deducted from the Library’s bank account.
    • The bank charges the Library a returned check fee.

    The following is then posted to the library card account involved:

    • The full amount paid by check for the original library fees
    • An additional $15.00 returned check fee, to reimburse the County for processing and administrative fees.

    How do I clear my account?

    All fees including the original fee and the returned check fee must be paid before borrowing additional materials.

    Payments can be made:

    If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the library.

    View a summary of your library card account activity by logging into your library account and checking in one of two places:

    • Dashboard view on the left side of the screen or
    • Clicking the down arrow on your user ID in the upper right of screen

    Under the category Checked Out, the following items will be displayed:

    • Items that were checked out, but not yet due
    • items that were checked out, and less than 30 days overdue

    Under the category Fees, the following items will be displayed:

    • Replacement charges for items that were checked out, but are now 30 or more days past due (considered lost)
    • $10 processing fee associated with each lost item
    • Other fees such as collection fee, returned check fee, missing parts fees, etc.

    When a lost item is returned in good condition, the replacement charge and $10 processing fee associated with the item are removed from the account.

  • Lost or Damaged

    You are allowed to keep a damaged item once you have reimbursed the Library the original cost of the item, along with any associated processing fees. Most damaged items are retained for 3 months. Damaged items that pose a health or safety hazard, will be discarded immediately.

    You must contact the library branch to which the damaged item was returned to see if it is still available, and arrange to pick it up.

    Contra Costa County Library does not accept replacement copies for lost and damaged materials. Any lost and damaged charges, including processing fees, must be paid.

    Please return any items you find. Even if the associated lost charges and processing fees have been paid, the item remains the property of Contra Costa County Library. If you paid by cash or check, either inside the Library or by mail, you may be able to get a partial refund.

    If a Wi-Fi hotspot is four or more days overdue, it is deactivated. Information about fees and charges for lost, damaged, or missing kit parts is available here. If the hotspot is missing or damaged, your account will be billed for the full cost of the kit plus a $10 processing fee.

  • Collections

    Contra Costa County Library has contracted with Unique Management Services (UMS) to act as our materials recovery agency. UMS will contact patrons regarding account delinquencies both by U.S. mail and by phone. Accounts which have been referred to UMS are assessed a $10 processing fee to cover the cost of doing business with the agency.

    UMS attempts to recover long overdue materials and/or outstanding amounts owed on the account. Accounts are referred to UMS when a balance due on the account of $50 or more remains unresolved for 60 days or longer.

    Delinquent Library accounts are never credit reported. However, once an account is referred to our material recovery and billing service, Unique Management Services, the account status will remain in collections and the account is blocked until the overdue materials are returned in good condition, and/or all outstanding charges and fees are paid in full, and/or any remaining delinquencies are otherwise resolved. Borrowing privileges are restored once the account balance is $0.

  • Refunds

    If you paid for a lost item by cash or check, you may be able to get a partial refund if the item is found and returned in good condition within one year of the date the lost charges were paid. The refund will include the total amount paid for the lost item, minus the $10 non-refundable processing fee. You must keep the paper receipt provided when the initial payment was made to receive a refund.

    If you are entitled to a partial refund, Library staff will complete a Patron Refund Demand (form D15). Your signature is required, along with a copy of the payment receipt for the lost item. The Patron Refund Demand is submitted to the Contra Costa County Auditor-Controller for consideration. If the request is approved, a refund check is mailed to the person requesting the refund. The process may take six to eight weeks to complete. Staff are not authorized to issue refunds directly from the cash register.

    Note: The Library is unable to issue refunds on any payments made through eCommerce, even if lost items are later found and returned.  

    Refunds are not available for payments made online by credit or debit card. The online payment service is unable to provide the type of receipt required by the County Auditor/Controller in order to issue a refund.

    Online payments should only be made on lost or damaged items that you are sure were not returned to the Library and which are not likely to be found in the future.

    If you feel there is a chance a lost item was returned to the Library or might be found, then it is recommended that you visit your local branch to make your payment where staff will be able to issue the type of receipt needed to be eligible for a refund.

    The receipt may entitle you to a partial refund, should the item be returned within a year of the payment transaction. Refunds will be calculated by subtracting the non-refundable processing fee on the item(s) in question from the total amount paid. Library staff will be able to provide further information about requesting a refund.

  • Payment

    The Library accepts payment of fees online through eCommerce. To do so:

    1. Log-in to your online Library account at ccclib.org and click on "Fees" under the heading "My Borrowing".
    2. Click on the "Pay Fees" button.
    3. Log-in a second time with your library card number and PIN to enter the payment portal.
    4. Check your account and pay the fees by completing the eCommerce payment form.

    NO REFUNDS available on payments made through eCommerce. There are no exceptions. See Refunds above for additional information.

    A returned check, also known as a bounced check, occurs when a payment made by check cannot be processed due to insufficient funds or other issues (e.g. an account is closed). When this happens, the check is sent back to the depositor, and additional fees may apply.  

    What happens when my check is returned?

    • The County’s Auditor’s Office informs the library that the check has been returned.
    • The check amount is deducted from the Library’s bank account.
    • The bank charges the Library a returned check fee.

    The following is then posted to the library card account involved:

    • The full amount paid by check for the original library fees
    • An additional $15.00 returned check fee, to reimburse the County for processing and administrative fees.

    How do I clear my account?

    All fees including the original fee and the returned check fee must be paid before borrowing additional materials.

    Payments can be made:

    If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the library.

    Payments may be “declined” by the Library online payment system for the following reasons:

    • Insufficient funds in the bank account
    • Name, address, zip code or CVV information entered does not exactly match what is on account with the card-issuing bank

    Declined payments may appear to be paid out by your bank, but this is not the case. The funds that were reserved by the bank to process the payment will be released back into your account when the transaction is reconciled by the bank.