Blocks & Fees

Overdue Block

Avoid overdues. Use My Account to sign up for email or text notification and receive courtesy reminders 1 day before an item is due.

Please return items on or before the due date. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s how libraries work.

Denver Public Library does not charge overdue fines for late returns, however, your account will be blocked from further checkout on the 14th day overdue. Please return overdue items immediately to resume borrowing privileges. You will be charged replacement fees for lost or damaged items. 

Lost Items

Overdue items are considered lost at 28 days overdue and replacement fees charged to your account. If you still have the items, please return them immediately, at no penalty.

If you have lost an item, you will be responsible for paying the replacement fee. Replacement copies are not accepted for lost or damaged materials. Please be sure that items are truly lost before paying replacement fees as we are unable to issue refunds.

Damaged Materials

Library materials should be returned in good condition. Replacement fees will be assessed to the borrower account for items returned in damaged condition. Replacement copies are not accepted for lost or damaged materials. Damage includes but is not limited to:

  • Water damage
  • Burned or ripped covers, cases or pages
  • Ripped or removed labels, barcodes or RFID tags
  • Dirt, sand, food or other substances adhered to materials
  • Highlighting or underlining of text
  • Smoke odor and/or residue
  • Bed bugs or other pests

Incomplete Returns

It is the borrower's responsibility to make sure that each case contains all discs before checking out and before returning audiovisual materials. If an item is returned missing one or more pieces, we will try to inform you. Please return the missing pieces as quickly as possible to avoid replacement fees.

Blocked Cards

You cannot check out or renew materials if you have fees totaling $5 or more, have long overdue items, your library account is in "collections" or if you have an incorrect address and/or telephone number on your library record.

Library card accounts with fees totaling $25 or more may be sent to a collection agency for further action. A fee of $10 will be added to your account to cover collection costs.

Prospector

Please keep the Prospector bookmark with the item. Item must be returned to a Denver Public Library location. Lost/Damage fee: $45.

Special Loan Fees

Some WorldCat Interlibrary Loan items have a checkout fee. The fee amount is up to the owning library and must be approved by the customer before the item is requested from the owning library. Special loan fees must be paid at the time of checkout.

Fees Payment Information

Fees may be paid at any Denver Public Library location. We accept cash, checks (made out to Manager of Finance) and credit cards (MasterCard, Discover or VISA). Payment (by check) may also be mailed to any location, sent to the attention of the Circulation Department. At this time, online and telephone fee payment options are not available.