If you live in or own property in Haliburton County, you are entitled to a free Haliburton County Public Library card! You can sign up for a card at any branch. To get a library card you will need to show something with your address on it. We’re flexible! We can accept the following items:
If you live just outside Haliburton County, we will also accept a library card from any of the following libraries as ID:
There are no age limits for using the library, but youth under 16 will need a guardian’s signature. We ask that children under 10 always have an adult with them.
All visitors are expected to abide by the library code of conduct.
Please treat your library card like any other piece of ID or credit card. You must show it when you borrow things from the library. Please let us know if your address or contact information changes. Always let us know if your card is lost or stolen.
Cards expire after two years, but can be renewed easily by dropping in to see us or by contacting us at any of our locations. If you lose your card, it is only $2 to replace it.
If you are just visiting Haliburton County, you can still get a Haliburton County Public Library card! Non-resident cards cost only $10, and are good for 3 months.
Your library card must be presented each time you check items out of the library.
Books and books on CD may be borrowed for three weeks.
DVDs and magazines may be borrowed for one week.
All items borrowed may be renewed twice, as long as no other patrons are waiting for them. You can request a renewal online, by phone, by email, or in person at one of our branches.
All of our branches are equipped with after-hours book drops, so items can be returned to any branch 24/7.
HCPL's e-book collection is maintained through OverDrive, which offers e-books, audiobooks, and digital magazines.
You can have holds on up to 10 e-books or digital audiobooks at any time. Digital magazines are always available.
For digital items, you can choose the length of the loan period. Books and audiobooks can be borrowed for 7 days or 14 days. Magazines can be borrowed for 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days.
You can borrow up to 10 digital items at one time.
Learn more about this collection on our E-books + Audiobooks page.
Our Digital Library also includes Kanopy (a video streaming service), as well as PressReader (digital newspapers and magazines from around the world). PressReader will no longer be offered as of fall 2024.
For all of our digital offerings, visit our Digital Library page.
Place a hold on any item you would like to reserve for pickup. We'll notify you when it's ready, and you will have two weeks to pick up the item. Holds are particularly useful in the following situations:
You can place a hold on an item by going to our website, emailing us, calling us, or visiting any one of our branches.
If there is something you would like to borrow that is not available in our collection you can submit a material request.
HCPL does not charge fines for overdue materials. You will receive email reminders to return your books when they are due. Please return your books on time to allow others to enjoy them too.
Accidents happen! Please never hesitate to inform staff if you have lost or damaged an item.
We get that things get worn out—many of our items go out over and over again. We’re talking about real “Oh no, I wrecked it” kinds of damage—like “my dog chewed on that DVD” or “I spilled coffee on that book” kind of damage.
Because our books require so much work to put in the collection, please don’t purchase a new book to replace the one you damaged. We charge what we charge to try and recoup some of the cost of turning our books into library books, while still being affordable to you.
If you think you lost an item, let us know! It happens to all of us. We’ll give you some extra time to track it down. Tip: Check under your car seat. You wouldn’t believe how many books wind up under there. If the item is considered really lost, you will be charged a replacement fee.
For lost or damaged items, please click here to see our fee schedule.
If you have concerns about what you’ve been charged, or you are worried about not being able to pay, talk to us. We will do our best to work with you to come up with solutions so that we can replace the item and you can keep using the library!
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