Borrower Services

How to Get a Library Card Account

Anyone residing in the state of California is eligible to receive an Oxnard Public Library card. Library cards are free and may be used at the Downtown Main Library, the South Oxnard Branch Library, and the Colonia Branch Library.

To apply for a library card account, please print and fill out the application below. Besides bringing this in, also bring a photo ID and proof of address with you to the library to receive your library card.

If the photo identification does not have proof of address, a utility bill with the residential address on it is needed to establish proof of residency. Alternatively, a self-addressed postcard can be filled out and sent to the home address by the library. Once received, the postcard will act as proof of residency.

Military personnel living in the state in a barracks, BOQ, BEQ or military housing may also obtain a library card account. They must present their military identification and identification with their permanent home of record address.

Library Card Account Application (English)

Solicitud de Tarjeta Bibliotecaria (español)

Applicants under the age of 18 must have the application signed by a parent or legal guardian, and a parent or legal guardian must accompany and display their own photo identification plus provide proof of address.

Minors may be restricted to checkout materials only in the children’s section by the choice of their parent or legal guardian. Likewise, the parent or legal guardian may also allow the minor under their care to be able to checkout all materials in the library, including DVDs and books in the adult collections. These choices are selected by the parent or legal guardian on the application form. Please note that minors restricted to the children’s collection cannot check any library materials designated as young adult.

You can also apply for a library card online. Press here to do this. Then, click the “here to register now” link to begin. Once completed, you will still need to go to one of our libraries to pick up your card and verify your identity with a valid picture ID plus provide proof of address. A parent or legal guardian will need to accompany the minor to the library to pick up the card and complete the application process.

By signing up for a library card account, you agree to be responsible for all materials checked out on your library card account, to report a lost library card, to observe library rules and policies, to promptly pay any late or lost item charges and to notify the library of an address or name change.

Members of the public may also apply instead for an Internet Only Library Card Account. This allows for access to our onsite internet access computers, available at all libraries, for an hour a day, but it doesn’t permit borrowing of library materials.

Your PIN

The PIN (personal information number) is your access code to log-on to your account information to check on the due dates of your items out plus request a renewal, plus it allows you to place holds on library items on our catalog and access our in-house internet computers, databases and online services. It is the last four digits of the phone number on your library card application. It may changed at any of our circulation desks, or it may be changed online via your account here (you’ll need to enter your old one first, but then you can change it to any other numbers).

Library Card Account Address Checks and Expirations

Library card account address and phone number information are reviewed with the account holder every three years at no charge. To update your card, you will be asked to verify your address and phone number. Cards without fees or lost or damaged items will be renewed every five years. Both of these procedures are done at one of our circulation desks.

Lost Cards

Please report lost or stolen library cards immediately. You are financially responsible for all items borrowed on your card.

The library card replacement fee is $2.00.

Borrowing Limits

Upon signup for a new card, patrons may checkout up to three items. After this, adults may check up to 50 items, and children may check up to 25. Some restrictions by media type apply. Please see the Loan Material Information Chart below.

Fines and Fees

Our system will not permit use of expired cards or cards assessed with lost/damaged items or charges of $5.00 or more. Fines and fees were set by Oxnard City Council Resolution No. 14,314, April 23, 2013. The maximum overdue fine for each adult library item per library card no matter the age of the card holder is $10.00. The maximum overdue fine for each children’s library item per library card no matter the age of the card holder is $5.00.

The library charges for lost and damaged items. Please see the Miscellaneous Fee Schedule for current costs.

Payments for fines may be made by cash, check, or money order. Unfortunately, we cannot accept credit, debit or other forms of payment besides those listed. Overdue fines are applied for each day materials are late.

Library items are checked in and taken off an account on the next open business day. Overdue fines on library materials are assessed up to the last open business day if items are returned during closed hours.

Renewing Library Items

Some materials may be renewed once for an additional four weeks providing the material is not on hold for another individual. See the Loan Material Information table for more information on what can be renewed.

There are three ways to renew materials:

1) In person at the library, either through a staff member at our Circulation Desk or by our Self-Checkout computers only available at South Oxnard.

2) Online via the library’s catalog here.

3) By phone at 805-385-7500 (Main Library), 805-385-8129 (South Oxnard Branch Library) or 805-385-8108 (Colonia Branch Library) during our open hours.

Reserving Materials

Materials that are currently checked out or are on order may be placed on reserve. All patrons may reserve up to 10 items at a time. Patrons are notified by email or phone when items are ready to be picked up at the Circulation Desk of the library of their choice. Reserved items are held for 7 days from the day of notification. A $.25 fee will be charged per reserved item not picked up by the 7th day after notification.

There are three ways to reserve materials:

1) In person at the library

2) On the Library’s web site through the Catalog Search

3) By phone at 805-385-7500 (Main Library), 805-385-8129 (South Oxnard Branch Library) or 805-385-8108 (Colonia Branch Library) during our open hours.

More Information

For further information regarding borrower services, please contact staff at the Main Library’s Circulation Desk at (805) 385-7500.

Loan Material Information Chart

Material Type	Limitations	Loan Period	4 Week Renewals Allowed (1 time only)	Late Fees
New Adult Fiction	–	2 weeks	No	$0.20/day
New Adult Nonfiction	–	4 weeks	Yes	$0.20/day
Adult Fiction and Nonfiction	–	4 weeks	Yes	$0.20/day
Adult Large Print Books	–	4 weeks	Yes	$0.20/day
Books on Cassette	–	4 weeks	Yes	$0.20/day
Books on CD	10	4 weeks	Yes	$0.20/day
Media (Book with CD/Tape/Video)	5	2 weeks	No	$1.00/day
Paperbacks (with “PB” on spine)	–	4 weeks	–	–
Test Review Books	1	2 weeks	No	$0.20/day
Braille Books	No limit	No limit	–	–
Magazines & Comic Books	10	2 weeks	No	$0.20/day
LPs, CDs, Music Cassettes	10	4 weeks	Yes	$0.20/day
Videos/DVDs	5	7 days	No	$1.00/day
Children’s Books and Audio Books	–	4 weeks	Yes	$0.20/day
Children’s Cassette/CD Booksets	3	4 weeks	Yes	$0.20/day

Miscellaneous Fee Schedule

Reason for Charge	Fee Amount
Lost Card Replacement	$2.00
Lost Item	Replacement cost + $7.50 processing fee
Damaged Item	Replacement cost + $7.50 processing fee
Maximum Fine Per Overdue Adult Item	$10.00
Maximum Fine Per Overdue Children’s Item	$5.00
Missing or Damaged Barcode/Case/Cover	Varies. Please see Circulation Staff.
Interlibrary Loan Requests	$1.00 (payable by patron when item is picked up at library)
Interlibrary Loan Requests	$1.00 (payable by patron when item is picked up at library)
Interlibrary Loan Late Fee	$3.00 per day

page last updated: March 25, 2020