Charges
At any time you can check what charges you have on your card by using the My Account feature in our catalogue.
Christchurch City Libraries can accept credit card payments using Visa or MasterCard over the phone.
Membership
Christchurch Residents
There is no charge to join the Library however appropriate personal identification and proof of address are required.
Non Resident Customers
There is no charge to join the Library however appropriate personal identification and proof of address is required.
People who live outside the Christchurch City ratepaying area must pay to borrow stock from Christchurch City Libraries. There are two payment options:
- Pay per item
- $2.50 per item in addition to standard rental charges for adults
- Note: people under 19 do not pay a per item charge except for standard rental charges
- Subscription
- Subscriber pays the charges normally applicable to Christchurch City residents
- The six month subscription charge is $50.00
Replacement cards
- Adult $5.00
- Youth $2.00
Borrowing items
Placing Holds
- Adults: $1.50
- Youth: Free
Overdue fines
- Standard items - 40c per day to a maximum of $10.00 per item
- Bestseller items - 50c per day to a maximum of $10.00 per item
Some of our collection have additional charges.
Audio CDs and Tapes
Music recordings, talking books and language courses cost the same to borrow:
- $1 for one and $2 for sets (two or more)
- ESOL / Adult Literacy collection - no charge
- Māori collections - no charge
Bestseller collection
- $5 per 7 day loan - maximum of 2 consecutive 7 day loan periods (14 days)
- Overdue charge - 50c per day
- Items must be issued and paid for before they are viewed or used in the Library or are taken home
- more about the Bestseller collection
DVDs
- DVDs in the general collection - $1 per week up to two weeks
- DVDs held in Children's and Ngā Pounamu Māori collections - free for one week
- DVD collections
Research
If you would like a librarian to search for information on your behalf, we are happy to assist - see our research page for details.
Your first 1/2 hour of staff research time will usually be free, thereafter library research services are charged at $20.00 per 1/2 hour. Local and family history queries are charged for from the beginning of the enquiry.
We will charge for printing or photocopying, faxing or postage and holds or interloans that are made as a result of your reference enquiry.
Faxing
Christchurch City Libraries will fax information in response to information inquiries.
Please note: libraries do not have a fax machine for public use.
The following charges apply:
- Within Christchurch - first page free
- Within New Zealand
- $2.00 per fax under 5 pages
- $5.00 per fax for 5-10 pages
- $5.00 + 50c/ page for 11 pages+
- Overseas - as above, plus toll charges
Document delivery
A document delivery service is available for Corporate members.
- Articles from the library online collections sent by email – no charge
- Articles from the library print collection sent by mail – printing, photocopying & postage charges apply
- Standards from the library collection sent by mail - $12/item
- Interloans sent by mail or email – $12/item + interloan charges
Payment
We can send an invoice to Corporate members for payment of document delivery and research charges of $10 or more. Alternatively payment can be made at any of our libraries or by phone using Visa or Mastercard.
