What you can borrow

Barnet libraries have something for everyone, including:

  • fiction such as mysteries, classics and science fiction
  • non-fiction books on every topic imaginable
  • vocal scores and playsets
  • music CDs (available at Chipping Barnet and East Finchley libraries) 
  • audiobooks on CD
  • DVDs
  • ebooks and audiobooks
  • digital magazines and newspapers

How many items you can borrow and for how long

Adults, children and teenagers can have up to 20 items on loan at any one time.

Item loan periods are as follows;

  • books: 3 weeks
  • music CDs or audiobooks: 3 weeks
  • DVDs: 1 week

You can return items to any Barnet library. You can also Select and Collect items on our online catalogue from another Barnet Library for free. Items which are not in Barnet Libraries can also be reserved for a small fee

Charges

Books, CDs and audiobooks can be borrowed free of charge but DVDs have a small loan charge 

Charges are made for all overdue items.

Renewing your loans

You can renew your loans in person, by telephone or online.

Special library cards

If you are a childminder, foster carer, home educator or preschool leader, you can have a special library card (in addition to your own personal library card) for books to share with the children in your care.

  • Childminders, Foster Carers and Home Educators: can borrow an extra 20 items. Standard loan periods and charges apply
  • Preschool leaders: can borrow up to 30 items. Books can be borrowed for up to 100 days. Standard charges apply

Childminders, foster carers and preschool leaders must show proof of their name and address and their OFSTED or Local Authority registration documents when obtaining a special library card. 

  • People living with Dementia can borrow the standard 20 items with no fines on the late return of books. Fines and charges for DVDs and other items will apply.

Interlibrary loan

Interlibrary loan obtains non-fiction books which are not held in Barnet Libraries. We cannot borrow audiovisual items, fiction or children's books.

Orders are placed either online or in person at your closest library.

You can order journal articles directly from the British Library for a small fee.

Community language materials

Barnet libraries stock books in a variety of community languages. 

Albanian available at South Friern Library

Arabic available at Colindale and East Finchley libraries

Cantonese available at Colindale Library

Farsi available at Colindale and Finchley Church End libraries

French available at Chipping Barnet Library

Greek available at Osidge Library

Gujarati available at Burnt Oak, Edgware and North Finchley libraries

Hebrew available at Golders Green Library

Japanese available at Edgware and North Finchley libraries

Mandarin available at Finchley Church End, Mill Hill and South Friern libraries

Polish available at Burnt Oak and Hendon libraries

Romanian available at Burnt Oak Library

Russian available at Chipping Barnet Library

Somali available at Colindale Library

Tamil available at Colindale Library

Turkish available at Osidge Library

Ukrainian available at Finchley Church End Library

Urdu available at Hendon Library.