Policies

Please note that the following borrowing policies apply only to the San Bruno Public Library and may vary from the policies of other Peninsula Library System libraries.

Fines and Fees

San Bruno Public Library is fine free.

However, lost, damaged and billed fees still apply. Items are billed 30 days after the due date. Lost, damaged and billed fees may be paid in person at the library or online by accessing your library account. If you have received a bill for an item still in your possession, in many cases, returning the item in good condition and in a timely manner will mean you do not have to pay the replacement cost. A billing fee may still apply. 

Why is the San Bruno Public Library eliminating overdue fines?

Based on the results of the many libraries that have already eliminated overdue fines, it has been found that:

Overdue fines do not effectively incentivize on-time return of library materials

Overdue fines negatively impact library use, particularly by lower-income people

Revenue from fines is less than the cost of staff time required to collect fines

Staff efficiency increases and staff time is optimized when fines are eliminated

In addition, the Library has committed to increasing grant revenue to replace fine revenue.

Loan Periods

Most Library materials have a three-week borrowing period. This includes items such as books, movies, music for both children and adults. The exceptions are:

Adult periodicals: 1 week

In-Library use only laptop: 1 hour

Reference materials and historical items: In-library use only

Renewals

San Bruno Public Library items, with the exception of Chromebooks, MIFI hotspots and In-Library use only laptops, may be renewed up to five times, provided no holds have been placed.

Eligible items on your library account will automatically renew one day before the due date. Items with holds/reserves or that have reached the maximum renewal limit will not renew.

Additionally, materials may be renewed online or by phone at (650) 638-0399, or in person at any library in the Peninsula Library System.

Item Limits

Please note that item limits apply only to the San Bruno Public Library and may vary from the item limit policies of other San Mateo County libraries. The total number of items on any one card at any given time is 50 items.

Returning Materials

San Bruno Public Library materials may be returned to any public or community college library in San Mateo County. Conversely, materials from other public and/or community college libraries in the County (Skyline College, College of San Mateo and Cañada College) may be returned to San Bruno.  Note that community college library material returned to San Bruno or other public libraries remains checked out on your library card until it physically reaches the community college libraries via the interlibrary delivery system.

When returning materials to the San Bruno Public Library during open hours, please leave them at the Circulation desk. When the Library is closed, items may be returned in the outside book drop located next to the Library entrance on Angus Ave W.

Holds

There is no charge for reserving items within the Peninsula Library System - in the catalog, over the phone or in person. When holds arrive at the San Bruno Public Library, they will await your pickup on the self-service hold shelves for 10 business days.

Other Library Charges

Lost items or items damaged beyond repair will be charged the price of the item plus a $5 processing fee.

Chromebooks, MIFI hotspots and In-Library use only laptops may have different processing fees.

$2 for the replacement of a lost or damaged library card. A lost card should be reported to your local San Mateo County library as soon as possible.

$10 for an interlibrary loan from outside the Peninsula Library System.