Your barcode is your library card number. This is either the letter "D" followed by 9 digits (such as D123456789) or 12 digits (such as 123456789000).
The first time you log in, you'll create a username. You can log in with your username from then on. Or you can continue to use your barcode.
Your PIN is initially your ZIP code.
To change your PIN, log in to your account and go to My Settings.
If you've forgotten your PIN, you may be able to get a reset link by email. If you're unable to request a reset link by email, contact us.
Self-check stations are available at most CPL locations. Some materials—WiFi hotspots, Chromebooks and Playaways—must be checked out at the circulation desk.
To use the self-check, you’ll need to scan your library card or key in your library card number. You’ll also need to enter your PIN; this is the same number you use to log into your account on our website.
As always, please ask for help if you need it.
You may have up to 50 titles on your account. This includes materials checked out, as well as interlibrary loan requests.
There are limits on the number of titles you can have checked out at a time:
Yes. To sign up for electronic receipts, please be sure your email address is up to date in your account on our website. To update your email, log in to your account and go to My Settings.
Then, on your next visit to the library, please ask a staff member to turn on electronic receipts for your account. Using electronic receipts helps reduce contact while you’re at the library.
The loan period depends on the type of material:
Longer checkout periods are available for some titles. Please ask about vacation loans when checking out your materials.
We do not keep records of what you've checked out. However, you can turn on the Borrowing History feature in your account to keep track of titles you check out going forward.
Various sorting options are available until you have 100 titles in your Borrowing History. After you have more than 100 titles, the information is no longer stored in the same way, because keeping all of that information in the system would cause page load times to be unacceptably slow.
Adding titles to your Completed shelf allows you to sort and filter with more flexibility. In addition to sorting, you can exclude titles you don't want, and filter the shelf, making it easier to find a specific title.
Physical Materials
You may have up to 12 "not ready" or "paused" holds on physical materials. This does not include hold requests that are "in transit" or "ready for pickup."
Digital Materials
You may have up to 5 holds on OverDrive titles in addition to any holds you have on physical materials.
You’ll receive an email when your hold is ready for pickup. If you haven’t added your email address to your account, you’ll receive notification by phone.
Yes. If a family member or friend is available to pick up your holds, they can do so in one of two ways. You can give them your library card to check out your materials. Or, if you contact us in advance, we can arrange to have the family member or friend check out your holds using their card. In that case, the materials would be checked out on their account, not yours.
Please visit the CPL location you selected as the pickup location for your hold.
Books are filed by last name on a public holds shelf. CDs and DVDs are held at the checkout desk.
At the Harold Washington Library Center, please pick up your holds in the Popular Library on the 1st floor.
Holds are held at your pickup location for six days.
We’re unable to extend the amount of time an individual hold is held; this ensures everyone receives their holds in a timely manner.
To change the pickup location for an individual item on hold (including items that are "in transit" or "ready for pickup"), please contact us for help.
To change your default preferred holds pickup location, log in to your account and go to My Settings / Account Preferences: Holds and Pickup Location.
Yes, you can pause a hold that is “not ready.” While your hold is paused, you will continue to move ahead on the waiting list, but the hold will not be sent to your pickup location while it is paused. Use this option to manage your holds when you are away or don't have time to read.
To pause a hold, log in to your account and go to Holds.
Book drops are available for returns, or you can return materials at the circulation desk.
Please return WiFi hotpots and Chromebooks at the circulation desk inside.
Your materials will be automatically renewed up to 15 times if no one else has placed them on hold. The new due date will be one standard loan period from the latest due date. That’s the loan period plus 2 days from the renewal date.
Or you may renew materials yourself at any time by logging in to your account and going to My Borrowing, by calling our automated phone line, 312-450-3443, or by calling or visiting any CPL location. Material renewed this way will be due one standard loan period from the renewal date and counts toward the 15-renewal limit.
Materials will be automatically renewed up to 15 times if no one else has placed them on hold. Or you may renew materials yourself. Renewals you initiate count toward the 15-renewal limit.
Interlibrary loan materials may not be renewed.
If you’re unable to renew your books, CDs, DVDs or other materials, your account may be restricted, you may have reached the renewal limit or someone else may have the title on hold. Your account is restricted if you have an outstanding balance exceeding $30 on your account.
We would need to take a look at your account to be sure of the reason, so please contact us for assistance.
Most materials may be returned to any CPL location. Internet to Go WiFi hotspots must be returned to the location where they were checked out.
Most CPL locations have book drops where most materials, including books, DVDs, CDs and audiobooks, may be returned at any time.
Selected materials may not be returned to a book drop and instead must be returned to the circulation desk during library hours. These materials are labeled "Do not return in book drop" and include discovery backpacks, Finch robots, fishing poles, Internet to Go WiFi hotspots and kits and Launchpads.
Materials not returned within 7 days after the due date will incur a block on your account, preventing you from checking out materials until the items have been returned. Once an item has been overdue for 60 days, it will be considered lost and a replacement fee will be added to your account. Replacement fees for lost material will automatically be removed from your account upon return of the material.
Overdue fines are charged only if interlibrary loan materials are returned late.
Failure to pay outstanding balances to CPL or reciprocal libraries may result in your account being blocked and library services being restricted.
We charge overdue fines only on interlibrary loan materials.
Please visit any CPL location to pay a fine or fee. We accept cash in any amount. Payments over $5 may be made by personal check, money order or traveler’s check with proper identification. We also accept checks drawn against banks outside Illinois with proper identification.
You’ll be charged a fee for replacement or repair of lost or damaged materials. We won’t hold you responsible for items lost or damaged by fire, flood or theft when documented by a police or insurance report.
If an item is lost, you’ll be required to pay the replacement cost of the item as well as any overdue fines owed for interlibrary loan materials. Once paid for, the item belongs to you.
If you find the item within 30 days of the date it was paid for, you can obtain a refund by bringing the item and the receipt to any CPL location. We refund only the cost of the item; any associated overdue fines will not be refunded. All refunds will be issued by U.S. mail from the City of Chicago.
You may choose notification by email or by phone (local numbers only).
We’ll email you when you have physical items ready to pick up or overdue.
We’ll also send a reminder two days before your physical items are due. If possible, we’ll renew these items for you for a full lending period plus two additional days.
Please add notices@chicagopubliclibrary.org to your email address book to assist delivery of notifications.
We’ll call you when you have physical items ready to pick up or overdue.
Due date reminders are not available by phone, but you can opt to have these sent by email and still receive other notifications by phone. To opt in, add an email address to your account.
We can only call local numbers. Accepted local area codes are 217, 224, 309, 312, 331, 464, 618, 630, 708, 773, 779, 815, 847 and 872.
To change how we contact you about items you have checked out or on hold, log into your account and go to My Settings / Contact Preference.
To update your phone number or email address, log into your account and go to My Settings.
For help with these changes, call (312) 747-4300.
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