Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to read the answer:
How much do you charge?
Bedford Borough Libraries' Charges
Click here for
Central Bedfordshire Libraries' Charges
Click here for
Luton Libraries' Charges
(links to the Luton Culture Libraries' website)
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Q How can I contact my Library?
Click here for
telephone numbers, addresses, and other information for all
Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire
and Luton libraries. Click on the library you want to contact when the list
of libraries is displayed.
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Q What are your Opening Hours?
Click here for
details of all Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire and Luton libraries, including opening
hours, addresses, telephone numbers, accessibility information, and events.
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Q How do I view my children's tickets through my login?
If your children's tickets are already linked to yours, then as soon as
you log in to your account you should see their details. They are listed
below your loans towards the bottom of the page. You should see your child's
names listed, click on the name to view and renew their loans. Click on the
navigation link 'Loans and Renewals' to return to your listing.
Don't forget if you request a child's book whilst logged in as yourself
there will be a charge added to your account. To request children's books
for free you must log in using your child's library card number and PIN.
If you would like to link your children's cards to yours, then please let
us know your child's name, date of birth, and their library card number. You
can contact us using the online enquiry service, or by phoning your
local library.
If your child is over 16 we cannot link their card to yours as we
consider them to be adults.
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Q What can I borrow?
You can borrow from a wide selection of items, but what you can borrow will
depend on your membership type.
Click here to see what you are entitled to in
Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire
Click here to see what you are
entitled to borrow from Luton Libraries
Q What can I request and borrow between Luton and
Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire?
Click here for
a chart showing what you can request and borrow as a member of either
Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire or Luton Libraries.
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In Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Libraries you
can renew your loans up to 10 times as long as the item has not been requested
by another customer. Luton Libraries allow up to 5 renewals.
When you have reached your maximum number of renewals you will need to
return your items to the library.
When you request a title your name is placed on a waiting list. The title
you requested will either be removed from the open shelves, or transferred
to your chosen collection library when it is returned by its borrower. You
will be informed by e-mail or letter when the title arrives in your chosen
library. The notifications are created over night and sent to you the
following day.
All requests are satisfied in chronological order.
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Q How do I find out more about my reservations?
There is quite a lot of information available online.
- Click on 'Reservations' on the navigation. If you
have not signed in already you will need to by entering your Library Card Number and PIN.
- This page will show you all your requests and where you are in the
queue. To find out more about the copies available click on the
'More Details' button.
Remember
where a title has a waiting list, Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire borrowers will have their
reservations satisfied by Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire items and
Luton borrowers will have their reservations satisfied by Luton items first.
Once these have been met the stock will move across the boundary to meet
requests in the other authority.
For more information you should contact your
local library.
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Q How do I change personal information, such as my email address?
To see the personal information we have about you, click on the
Personal Details link on the navigation. You may need to sign
in using your library card number and PIN.
The Personal Information page shows the information
we hold on our library system; address, e-mail,
etc. You can click on any of the blue links to update your details.
Changing them here will automatically change them on the library computer
system.
From this page you can change or update your:
- address and telephone numbers
email address
choice of item available (request) notifications - e.g.
post to e-mail
PIN
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Q I have lost my Bedford Borough or Central Bedfordshire library card - what should I do?
Contact your
local library now!
A member of staff will mark your library card as reported lost and this
will prevent anyone from using it.
When you next visit the library bring one proof of identification with
you, to prove your name and address. You will be given a new
library card with a new number, and your PIN will change. However, you
are able to change your PIN back
to your memorised number.
There is a charge for a replacement ticket, click here for
details of Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire's charges.
However, if the library card belongs to a child there is no replacement charge but
proof of the parent or guardian's name and address will be requested.
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Q I have lost my Luton library card - what should I do?
Contact your
local library now!
A member of staff will mark your library card as reported lost and this
will prevent anyone from using it.
When you next visit the library bring one form of identification with you
which must prove your name and address. You will be given a new library card
with a new number, but your PIN will not change.
There is a charge for a replacement ticket, click here for details of
Luton Libraries' Charges
(links to the Luton Culture Libraries' website).
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Q I think I have lost an item I borrowed - what should I do?
Don't worry!
Contact your
local library and let them know that you may have lost the item. They
will remove the title from your library card and mark it as lost.
You will then be asked to pay the replacement cost for the item. To find
out the minimum amount you will be expected to pay follow the links below:
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Q I think I may be entitled to concessions, how do I find out more?
Click here for
information about Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Libraries' concessions
Click here for
information about Luton Libraries' concessions
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Q I have an item at home but it is not showing on my details - what
should I do?
Please let us know the details of the item you have at home, the title,
author or artist and the 9 digit item number, above the barcode, usually
found inside the cover. Either contact us using the
online enquiry service, or phone your
local library.
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Q There is an item showing on my library details, but I do not have it -
what should I do?
Please let us know the details of the item you do not have at home, the
title, author or artist as they show on your library record. To help us
resolve the matter for you please provide as much background information as
you can. Either contact us using the
online enquiry service, or phone your
local library.
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Q My account says I owe money, but I have already paid the amount - what
should I do?
Please let us know the details of the money owed, how much and which
items the sum is linked to. To help us resolve the matter for you please
provide as much background information as you can. Either contact us using
the
online enquiry service, or phone your
local library.
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There are a few reasons that this may be happening.
Please check that you have entered the correct 9 digits from your library
card. if you own an old library card there are additional digits and
characters at the end of the number that are not required, only use the
initial 9 digits.
If the number you have entered is correct there is a chance your PIN is
different to the one on the system - you can
request your PIN by
following this link, it will be e-mailed or posted to you.
If you are still encountering problems then please contact us providing as much information as you can, such as error
messages, as this will help us resolve the problem for you.
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