Membership & Fees
Membership
Privileges of a Library Membership:
Welcome to Elgin County Library! Find out how to get a library card below, what late fines and replacement fees apply to library items, and what your ECL Card gets you!
You will receive a plastic card, similar in appearance to a credit card, which contains your library card number.
Your library card is free:
- If you are a resident of Elgin County or St. Thomas;
- If you pay taxes in Elgin County or St. Thomas;
- If you have a St. Thomas Public Library card;
- If you are a member of a neighbouring public library system;
- Please be prepared to present identification showing your current address and photo.
Starting June 1, 2022, children’s materials will have no late fines! Starting April 1, 2023, adult fiction books will have no late fines! Replacement fees will still apply if an item is not returned after overdue notices have been issued. For more information, visit the Fine Free page.
| Item | Description | Loan period | Fines/Daily fee | Maximum fine | Replacement fee* | Processing fee |
| Non-fiction Book | Adult Hardcover | 4 weeks | $0.10 | $7.00 | $30.00 | $5.00 |
| Non-fiction Book | Adult Paperback | 4 weeks | $0.10 | $5.00 | $10.00 | $5.00 |
| DVD/Video/Game | Adult/ Juvenile | 1 week | $1.00 | $10.00 | $20.00 | $5.00 |
TV Series on DVD | Adult/Juvenile | 2 weeks | $1.00 | $10.00 | $20.00 | $5.00 |
Music CDs | Adult/ Juvenile | 1 week | $0.50 | $7.00 | $20.00 | $5.00 |
| Bag of Books | Adult/Juvenile | 4 weeks | $1.00 | $10.00 | $160.00 | $5.00 |
Audiobooks & Language Kits | Adult/ Juvenile | 4 weeks | $0.50 | $7.00 | $50.00 | $5.00 |
Playaways & Wonderbooks | Adult/ Juvenile | 4 weeks | $0.50 | $7.00 | $70.00 | $5.00 |
| Magazines | Adult/ Juvenile | 2 weeks | $0.10 | $5.00 | $5.00 | None |
| Interlibrary loan items | Adult/ Juvenile | Discretion of loaning library | $0.10 | $7.00 | Discretion of loaning library | None |
Computer Kits | Adult | 2 weeks | $1.00 | $10.00 | $80.00 | $5.00 |
Park Passes | Adult | 1 week | $1.00 | $10.00 | $100.00 | $5.00 |
Reference Books | Adult/ Juvenile | 1 week | $1.00 | $10.00 | $50.00 | $5.00 |
*If item’s price is unknown, the above default replacement rates are charged.
Please note that books with multiple holds on will have a shortened loan period of two weeks. Reference material can be borrowed from the branch library with permission from staff. Renewals are available by contacting your local branch library or by going online and accessing your account. Renewals are only possible if there are no holds on the item. Patrons will be notified in writing when materials are four weeks overdue.
Fines are subject to Elgin County Library’s fine-free plan to eliminate overdue fines on all library materials by December 31, 2024.
If you lose your library card, the cost to replace it is $1.00.
Please report promptly a change of address or phone number or the loss or theft of your card by visiting your local branch or calling or emailing. All contact information for all 10 branch locations can be found on our Hours & Locations page.
There are two types of card available. A Virtual Library Card allows you access to all of our online resources, and a regular Library Card allows you access to all of our online resources plus physical items. A Virtual Library Card can be updated to a regular card by visiting your local branch.
| Virtual Library Card | Library Card | |
| Borrow physical items including: fiction and non-fiction books, audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, magazines, Special Collections |  |  |
| Access our online catalogue | | |
| Place holds on physical items on our online catalogue | | |
| Access Elgin County Library wifi | | |
| Access to computers in all 10 branches | | |
| Access all our online reference resources on our Online Learning page | | |
| Access all ebook and entertainment platforms on our Online Reading & Entertainment page | | |
Your pin number is set up to be the last 4 digits of the phone number you provided when you signed up for a library card. You can change your pin by logging into My Account. Contact us if you are having trouble with your pin #.
Elgin County Library cards are valid for 2 years. After that time we require them to be renewed and ask that we make sure we still have the right contact information for you.
There are a few ways to renew your card:
- Visit your local branch;
- Call your local branch;
- Use the live chat feature on our website (available Monday – Friday between 9am – 4:30pm).
Virtual Library Card Application
The virtual library card is exclusively for the use of online content offered by the Elgin County Library. Your library card is free:
- If you are a resident of Elgin County or St. Thomas.
- If you are a member of a neighbouring public library system.
Please note: if you currently have an existing library card with Elgin County Library, you have full access to all online content and are not eligible for a virtual library card.
How to apply:
- Fill out the form below to apply for a virtual library card.
- Once submitted, your application will be processed by library staff.
- A welcome package will be sent in the mail to you, and it will include your new virtual library card.
- You should receive your welcome packet within 7 working days of your application submission.
