You need to have a full-access library card in order to borrow materials.
To borrow items, you can take them to the circulation desk and have staff check out your materials. Please provide your library card or a photo ID.
Alternatively, you can use the self-check machine to check out items yourself. Self-check machines can only be used with your library card.
The checkout period for all materials is three weeks.
At any given time you may borrow up to 100 physical items as long as your account is in good standing. Within this total, you may borrow up to 5 Lucky Day titles. Special kits may have their own limits.
For Libby/OverDrive content, the limit is 6 titles.
You can use a digital copy of your library card to check out material on many of the library's self-check machines.
To create a digital copy of your library card, you can try one of the below methods:
If the red beam on a self-check or scanner has a large green dot, then it is programmed to read digital images. If the shelf-check you are using cannot read the digital image of your Library card, you may go to the service desk for assistance. For transactions involving confidential information such as Library card registrations, replacement cards, and discussing titles of materials checked out to your account, a physical Library card or photo ID is required.
To request a title from the Library catalog, follow these steps:
For details, see the Placing Holds section on bibliocommons.com.
You can place up to 100 items on hold at a time.
You will receive an automated telephone call or email, depending on your preference, when you have an item waiting to be picked up. You can also check your online Library account by going to our homepage and logging in with your Library card number and PIN under Log In/My CCCLib. Check the status of items in the ON HOLD category.
You may also call your local community library or Contact Us for assistance by phone, text, email or chat.
If you no longer want an item you have requested, you can cancel your hold. Please see the Canceling Holds section on bibliocommons.com for instructions.
If you would like to postpone the date a requested item will be sent to the pickup location once available, you can pause the hold. For instructions please see the Pausing Holds section on bibliocommons.com.
Search the Library catalog for the magazine you would like to place a hold on. Click on “Place a Hold.” You will be given a list of all available issues for that title. Select which issue you would like, scroll down to the bottom of the list and click on “Confirm.”
You can change the pickup location in two ways:
If your item is already on the hold shelf or is currently in transit to a branch, you will need to contact library staff to request that it be re-routed.
Materials checked out from a Contra Costa County Library branch can be returned to any branch. Do not return our materials to other library systems. Return LINK+ materials checked out at a Contra Costa County Library branch to Contra Costa County Library, not the owning library.
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 you would like to return a Kindle eBook before its due date, they can be returned through the Kindle eReader, Kindle app, or on the Amazon website. They cannot be returned directly through the Library catalog.
OverDrive/Libby made a change that prevents users from being able to return titles from the Library catalog if they have been checked out to a Kindle device. This change was made in June 2024 to fix an issue where Kindle loans could appear out-of-sync with Amazon's systems.
Patrons who try to return one of these titles from the catalog will see the following message: "This title cannot be returned from this device." The catalog vendor has been notified to not display the return action for these titles and to provide instructions for how to return a title from a device.
Here are two help articles with instructions:
All eBooks are automatically returned at the end of their lending period.
Eligible library materials can be renewed a maximum of two times, depending on the type of item. Renewals will occur automatically two (2) days before the due date. Items may also be renewed through your online account, using the self-check kiosk available at select library locations, or by contacting the library directly for assistance.
You will recieve a courtesy email notice if auto-renewal is unsuccessful.
NOTE: Auto-renewal does not apply to eBooks, eAudiobooks, or streaming video.
LINK+ items can be renewed one time, for an additional 3 weeks, upon approval of the owning library system.
Auto-renewal is a service for the Library that automatically renews physical materials that have available copies on the shelf. Items will automatically be renewed two days before their due date. The new due date will be extended from the original due date, so you will still enjoy a full loan period after each automatic renewal.
Please see our FAQ, "Why am I unable to renew the item I have borrowed?" for exceptions and restrictions on auto-renewal. Please note that eBooks and eAudiobooks do not renew automatically.
Renewals are not guaranteed and not all items can be renewed: Lucky Day items, park passes, magazines, and some kits are ineligible for renewal.
A renewal will be denied if:
The California State Library Parks Pass program provides a free vehicle day-use entry at 200+ participating state parks to library cardholders. It can be used for one passenger vehicle with a capacity of nine people or less, or one highway licensed motorcycle.
Anyone who has a Contra Costa County Library card can borrow a park pass at no charge. Park passes can be found in the Library catalog and may be requested by placing a hold, visiting a community library service desk, or contacting the Library for assistance.
If you don't have a Library card, you can apply for one today.
The park passes are available for one three-week checkout. They are not eligible for renewal.
No. The Library Parks Pass is valid for vehicle day use at 200+ participating state park of the California State Park System operated by State Parks.
No, the pass is only valid within the 200+ participating state parks.
No.
No. Also, the pass is not valid for per-person entry or tour fees (such as museums), boat use, group use or sites, special events, additional/extra vehicle fees, sanitation disposal use or for supplemental fees.
Please contact the Library to let us know if your pass was lost or stolen.
