About Your Library Card
A few tips:
- Make sure your account is up to date: name, address, phone number, and email address. You can make changes to your account at any time.
- Report a lost or stolen card immediately through our Contact Us page or call 614-645-2275.
- Download the CML App from the App Store and Google Play to access content when you’re on the go; you can also check out items in the library using your phone.
Books, Magazines & Other Print Materials: 50 items
- Books: 21 days
- Circulating Magazines: 7 days
- Audiobooks: 21 days
- Music: 14 days
DVDs & Blu-rays: 20 items
- 14 days
Video Games: 2 items
- 7 days
Reserves: 60 items
- In a combination of formats
- You can renew most library materials from My Account, by phone at 614-645-2275 or in person at any of our 23 locations.
- All Columbus Metropolitan Library items (if eligible) are renewable up to 10 times unless reserved by someone else.
- If materials are not eligible for renewal and become overdue, we’ll take the following actions:
- 7 days past due: The library sends an overdue notice by email, phone or text.
- We do not charge daily overdue fines.
- 14 days past due: The library sends an overdue notice by email, phone or text.
- 21 days past due: The library sends an overdue notice by email, phone or text. The account is blocked due to long-overdue materials.
- 35 days past due: The replacement cost of overdue materials is charged to the account.
- 70 days past due: If the value of overdue material(s) is worth more than $25, the customer’s account will be turned over to a materials recovery agency, and a non-refundable fee of $12 will be charged to cover the cost of the recovery service. The recovery service will use letters and phone calls to contact the customer.
You can use your card at all Columbus Metropolitan Library locations. We’re also part of the Central Library Consortium which provides even more access to materials.
Your PIN (personal identification number) will be the last four digits of your phone number unless you specified a different number during the application process.If you apply online from home, you’ll receive a digital library card number you can use immediately to access digital content and to reserve meeting and study rooms. You can reserve physical items, but you will need to come in to one of our 23 locations with your photo I.D. to receive a physical library card to check them out.
Access your account to renew items and see what you have currently checked out. You can also see if you owe fees (see details above) and pay them with major credit card while logged into your account. Have your library card number and PIN handy.
We’ll send you a welcome email to share library card benefits. You’ll also receive our Check it Out emails sharing what’s happening at the library; you can unsubscribe from those at any time. You can also sign up for emails covering a variety of topics or sign up to receive occasional texts from our locations.
Questions? Contact Us or ask a staff member.
