Slough Borough Council

How to join the library

Anyone who lives, works or studies in Slough is welcome to join. It’s free and you can join at any age. Even babies can have their own library card!

Join online now!

• Go to our library catalogue http://www.sloughcatalogue.info/, click on Join the library and fill in your details.

• You will be given a temporary card number and personal identification number (PIN). You can use these straight away to reserve items from the library catalogue and use our 24 hour library for free access to subscription websites.

• To start borrowing, books, DVDs, console games, or use our computers you’ll need to come in to any one of our branches to collect your library card. You may be asked a security question. If you are under 8, your parent, guardian or carer will need to be with you when you collect your card.

Join at your local library

• You can join at any branch of Slough Libraries (Britwell, Cippenham, Langley or Slough) or the mobile library.

• If you don't have any ID with you when you visit us, you can still sign up straight away. All we ask is that if possible you try and bring one form of identity when you next visit us eg, bank card, passport, driving licence, medical card, utility bill, bank statement.

• Children aged over 8 can join without a parent, guardian or carer being present. If you can't provide ID when you first join, please try and bring one form of identiy next time you visit us.

• If you are under 8, your parent, guardian or carer will need to be with you when you join.

What can I borrow?

• 10 printed items - books for 3 weeks, magazines for 1 week
• 6 videos or DVDs for 1 week
• 6 CDs or talking books for 3 weeks
• 6 CD-Roms for 1 week
• 2 console games for 1 week
• 3 books & 1 audio visual item if you join without proof of address

What does it cost?

• You can borrow books and magazines for free.
• There are charges for borrowing videos, DVDs, CDs, Talking Books, CD-Roms and console games. See our library charges.
• You can also search the internet for free.

Returning and renewing your borrowed items

•Items may be returned to any branch of Slough Libraries.

•You can renew items to keep them for longer if nobody else has requested them.

•There is a charge for items returned late. Renewing will help avoid overdue charges. (You can now receive email and/or SMS (mobile phone texts) to remind you when you have overdue items. Find out how to sign up to email and SMS alerts.)

•If you wish to renew audio-visual items, you will be charged the standard rate for borrowing audio-visual items.

•Renew at any Slough library, or renew by telephone or online.

•See full list of library charges.

Renew an item NOW on the library catalogue

• You need your library card and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to renew items.

• No PIN? Please visit your nearest library to get a PIN. You may be asked a security quesiton, eg address or date of birth.

• Go to the library catalogue, click on Quick renew and enter your details.

• Please note that any renewal charges will be added to your account. You will not be able to renew items if you owe £10 or more.

Reserving items

•If someone else has borrowed the item you need, you can reserve it so that when the item is returned to the library it will be held for you to collect.

•You can reserve lending books, audio books, CDs, Videos, DVDs & CD-Roms, but not items for library use only.

•There is a charge for reserving many adult items, and also children’s videos, DVDs and console games. See list of charges. (You will not be able to reserve items if you owe £10 or more.)

•You can now receive email and/or SMS (mobile phone texts) to tell you when you have reserved items waiting for collection. Find out how to sign up to email and SMS alerts.

•If you can’t find the book you’re looking for on the library catalogue, then you can request it. We are sorry we are unable to take requests for DVDs or CDs not in stock, but we are happy to receive suggstions. More information about requesting and suggesting items for stock.

Reserve an item on the library catalogue NOW!

• Log on to the library catalogue

• Find the item you need and click on Reserve. Then enter your library card and PIN

• No PIN? Please visit your nearest library to get a PIN. You may be asked a security quesiton, eg address or date of birth.