This guide gives you step-by-step instructions on common library tasks.
Welcome to your library
You now have access to all our libraries across Auckland and an extensive and growing collection of books, eBooks, DVDs, newspapers, magazines and online resources.
Visit any of our libraries to access free WiFi, public computers and printing services, as well as attend events and programmes run by our staff and members of the community.
For your local library’s services and opening hours, see
locations and hours.
Not yet a member?
Anyone can enjoy our library spaces and join our events without becoming a member. However, to borrow items, you will have to register.
Managing your account
To manage your library account online, simply
login with the barcode number on your library card and your PIN/password.
If you don’t remember your PIN/password,
login to reset it.
- Click on Forget your PIN/password?
- You will be asked to provide your library barcode number. An email will be sent to the email address in your account.
- Click the link provided in the email in order to reset your PIN/password.
If you want to change your address, phone number, email address, or preferred library to pick up requests, fill in our
Update your details online form.
You will need your library card barcode number.
See our
Fees and charges page for:
- borrowing fees
-
request charges
- inter-library loan charges
- printing and photocopying charges
- research charges
- heritage image supply charges
- room hire.
From 1 September 2021, overdue fines will be automatically removed from your account, and you will no longer be fined for returning items after the due date.
This does not apply to
inter-library loan overdue fines.
To check the status of your requested book,
login to your account using your library barcode number and PIN/password. You will see a list of items you’ve currently checked out.
On the left menu, click on Holds.
You will see each item you have placed a hold on, the status and your selected pickup location. A status that says “2 of 4 holds”, for example, means that once a copy is returned, you are the second in line out of four people who have placed a hold on the same item.
Log into your account if you want to cancel your hold or freeze your hold.
If you no longer want to borrow the book, cancel your hold by ticking the box next to the item title on the Cancel column and click Save changes.
If you do not want to progress your hold at this time but want to retain your place in the queue, freeze your hold by ticking the box on the Freeze column on the same row as the item.
Log in to your account to create a reading list.
The My lists feature is a handy tool for saving a list of books, eBooks, DVDs and other titles you'd like to read or request.
Note: The My lists feature is only available on desktop.
- To create a reading list, start by searching for a title or author on the library catalogue.
- Next to the catalogue item, there is a set of Additional actions. Click on the Add to cart basket icon for any title you want to add to a list.
- Once you are done adding titles to your cart, click on My cart at the top of the page.
- Click on Save to My lists in the menu bar.
- You will be prompted to login, if you haven’t already. Use your library barcode number and PIN/password.
- A pop-up window will appear. Type a Name for your list. Click Create. You have now created a list. Click OK.
- To find out how to view your list, go to the next step. You can view lists of titles you have created. Click on My account at the top of your screen. Then, click on My lists on the left-hand side menu.
- Click on a list name to view/edit the list or delete a list.
- Go to the next step to know how to request an item from your list. To request titles from a list, click on the title. This will take you to the page for that title, where you can request it.
To view your reading history, you must be logged in to your account. When you registered to become a member, you were automatically opted into recording your reading history.
-
Login with your library barcode number and PIN/password.
- Once logged in, click on Reading history on the menu on the left side of the screen.
- You will then see the list of records you have checked out. You can click on the title of a record to get more information.
- If you don't want a recording your reading history, you can click Opt Out.
Borrowing and requesting items
As a member, you can borrow up to 35 items at a time.
It’s free to borrow most items except for music CDs, rental DVDs and top picks. You can borrow books for 28 days and magazines for 14 days. For other items, see borrowing periods in
Fees and charges.
Browse the shelves at any of our libraries. To check out a book or other physical items, take it to a self-checkout machine. All you need is your library card. Or you can go up to the front desk to get a staff to check the item out for you.
To request an item to be sent to your local library, visit the Auckland Libraries catalogue and click the ‘request it’ button.
You will be asked to log in with your library barcode number and PIN/password if you are not yet logged in.
No barcode?
Become a library member.
Did not find what you were looking for?
Interloan it or
ask us to buy it.
You can also use the Search on top of our website. Enter a title or author you are looking for and make sure that you select Catalogue search. Click the search icon.
This should give you a list of catalogue results that match your search. Tick or untick filters on to widen or narrow your search.
Click on a result. Click the Request it button.
You will be asked to log in with your library barcode number and PIN/password if you are not yet logged in.
No barcode?
Become a library member.
Did not find what you were looking for?
Interloan it or
ask us to buy it.
The record in the catalogue will clearly show if it is Available or Not available. You can request it whether or not it is available.
Available
If a copy of a print book is available, you will soon be able to pick it up from the library of your choice. If we have your email address in your account, an email will be sent to you when it is ready to pick up.
If a copy of an eBook or an eAudiobook is available, you will be able to check the item out and access it right away using your device.
Not available
If no copies of print book are available immediately, you’ll be added to a waiting list and we’ll send you an email when it is available and ready for pick up.
If a copy of an eBook or an eAudiobook is unavailable, you will be able to place a hold on the item. We will send you an email notification when it is ready for you to check the item out.
You can
login to your account and find out what place in line you are.
When you request a physical item (for example, print books, magazines and DVDs), you can select a library where you want to pick it up from. When the item is ready to pick up, you will receive an email notification (if we have your email address).
A charge of $2 per item may apply if the item is not collected before the expiry date. The email notification will show the expiry date.
Bring your library card with you when you collect your item at your pick up location. Go to the designated request pickup section of the library.
If you are an eMember and want to borrow a print book, go to your selected library for pick-up and speak to one of our staff to extend your membership to include physical items. You will need to bring photo ID.
Access material from other libraries in New Zealand or overseas through our inter-library loan service.
-
Fill in the online inter-library loan request form with as much information as possible.
- We will contact you for more information or if we are unable to locate your requested item/s. We will give you a quote if your request is urgent or international.
There is a charge for this service. For more information, check our Fees and charges.
Returning and renewing items
You can return an item to
any of our 55 libraries, regardless of where you picked it up. Simply put the item inside the return chute whether the library is open or closed.
If you have provided us your email address, you will receive an email reminder three days before physical items are due.
Items returned after hours will be recorded as returned on the day prior to the library opening.
eBooks and eAudiobooks are automatically removed from your device when due.
From 1 September 2021, overdue fines will be automatically removed from your account, and you will no longer be fined for returning items after the due date.
This does not apply to
inter-library loan overdue fines.
If you want to keep an item longer, you can try to renew it. To renew an item, you have to be logged in to your account.
- Click Login at the top of our website and login with your library barcode number and PIN/password.
- You will then see the list of items you have checked out. Tick the box on the Renew column next to the item title you want to renew.
- You can choose to click Renew all, or to click Renew marked if you only want to renew items you have ticked.
- You will see a message whether all or any of your renewals were successful. An unsuccessful renewal means that the item has been placed on hold by someone else or you have already renewed this item twice. Therefore, you cannot renew the item and you must return it.
The renewal period is the same length as the initial loan period for the item. For example, you can renew print books for another 28 days. See loan periods for different items on the
Fees and charges page.
Renewal will start on the date you have chosen to renew the item, not the day after your initial loan period.
Autorenewal
Our autorenewal function automatically renews most unreturned items on your library account for another 28 days.
- Your first renewal will happen automatically unless the item has been requested by another customer.
- Auto-renewals apply from the due date of the item - ensuring you have another full 28-day loan.
- Most library items can be renewed twice unless requested by another customer.
- You must manually renew your item before the due date if you would like to renew it a second time. If the item has been requested by another customer, you will not be able to renew the item.
- Some library items cannot be renewed, including items requested by another customer, Blu-Rays, DVDs, magazines, CDs, eBooks and eAudiobooks.
Check your due dates on each item in your courtesy email to see which items have been auto-renewed and which ones you need to return.
eCollections and online resources
To borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers or streaming video, you need to
be an Auckland Libraries member.
Once you’re a member, you can use your library barcode number and PIN/password to access our eCollections.
The four eBook services available to Auckland Libraries members are:
Tip: To start browsing and borrowing eBooks, use your library details to login to your preferred eBook platform.
Remember
To access eBooks through Auckland Libraries, you must click via these links we provide on the website rather than by going directly to the eBook provider's website.
The three eAudiobook services available to Auckland Libraries members are:
Tip: To start browsing and borrowing eAudiobooks, use your library details to login to your preferred eAudiobook platform.
Remember
To access eAudiobooks through Auckland Libraries, you must click via these links we provide on the website rather than by going directly to the eAudiobook provider's website.
The four eMagazine services available to Auckland Libraries members are:
Remember
To access eMagazines through Auckland Libraries, you must click via these links we provide on the website rather than by going directly to the eMagazine provider's website.
PressReader is the eNewspaper service available to Auckland Libraries members.
Access eNewspapers online through the PressReader website or download the PressReader app to your device.
- Explore the collection. Click on the cover of the eNewspaper to start reading.
- If you have downloaded the eNewspaper to your app, you can access it for 30 days.
- To continue reading and downloading through the app on your device, visit any of our libraries and open the app again while connected to our WiFi to start your next 30 days of free access.
Remember
To access PressReader through Auckland Libraries, you must click via these links we provide on the website rather than by going directly to the PressReader website.
You can
access free resources covering a wide range of subjects such as business and industry, arts and music, science and social science, and family and local history.
Most of these resources have a search bar to help you with your specific topic. Some have featured material and a list of topics you can browse.
You will need your library barcode number and PIN/password to access some of these online resources while some do not require this. A few are only accessible when you are within one of our library locations.
No barcode?
Become a library member.
Remember
To access online resources through Auckland Libraries, you must click via these links we provide on the website rather than by going directly to the providers' websites.
Access streaming films for free via Beamafilm and OverDrive. All you need is a library membership and internet connection.
Beamafilm
-
Visit Beamafilm and click Sign up.
- Click
Use your participating library card and start to type
Auckland Libraries as your library.
Select Auckland Libraries when it appears.
- Login to your library account using your library barcode and PIN/password.
- Create your Beamafilm account with your name, email and password. Do not click the Facebook or Google buttons to create your account.
- Verify your account in your email and login to the Beamafilm site.
- Start browsing and streaming unlimited videos.
OverDrive
-
Visit OverDrive Videos and click Sign in. Use your library barcode.
- Click Borrow to check out available videos. You can choose to borrow a video for 3, 5 or 7 days.
- Click Place a hold on currently unavailable videos. You will be notified via email once it is available.
No barcode?
Become a library member.
WiFi, public computers and printing services
You can connect to our WiFi using your WiFi enabled laptop, tablet or smartphone (e.g. Apple, Android or Windows) within our library locations.
- In your device’s WiFi settings, select “Auckland WiFi”.
- Open your web browser.
- Click 'Get online' in the middle of the welcome page.
You can use up to 1GB of data per calendar day. Read information on WiFi sessions and restrictions.
If you are having connection problems, speak to one of our librarians for help.
It's free to use our public computers. You can access free WiFi and print your documents.
Use an available computer or join a queue for the next available one. You can also book a computer in advance.
To use one of our computers, you need to log in with your library card barcode number and PIN/password. If you do not have a barcode or PIN, speak with a staff member to log in as a guest.
Or register now.
You can print, photocopy or scan at any of our libraries. You will need to
log in with your library card number and PIN/password. If you do not have a library card or PIN/password, speak with a staff member for help with registering or using a guest pass.
See table for printing and photocopying charges:
A4 – black and white
| 20c
|
A4 – colour
| $1
|
A3 – black and white
| 40c
|
A3 – colour
| $2 |
It is free to use our machines to scan to an email address or your USB drive.
- Add money to your account by logging in to E-purse with your library barcode number and PIN/password.
- Click ‘Add value’ and choose the amount you want to add.
- Click ‘Pay’ and add your credit card details. There is a 1.75% convenience fee.
- You can use one of the library computers or your personal device.
- Log in to Web print with your library card barcode number and PIN/password, or ask a staff member to help you login as a guest.
- Make sure you have selected your preferred paper size and other settings before uploading your documents.
- Click 'Select files' and upload your documents.
- Default print settings are black and white, one-sided, 1 copy, A4. To print in colour, select your document and click 'Change job attributes’.
- Log on to a printer at one of our libraries to print your document.
Library spaces and staff support
Head over to
your local library and speak to one of our librarians. They can recommend books from the shelf or in the catalogue to help you with your research.
Librarians can also help you look for information using our online resources.
If you wish to book time with a librarian, simply
fill in our Book a librarian online form and we will be in touch.
You are also welcome to use our public computers, free WiFi and other facilities.
If you need one-on-one time with a librarian for help on your research or how to use your device , fill in the
Book a librarian online form.
Some of our locations have bookable rooms free for community use and at an hourly rate for commercial use. These rooms are ideal for meetings and workshops.
- Click on any of the locations listed to find out more about the venue, such as availability, capacity and equipment.
- Use the Availability button to check when the room is available.
- Use the Book button to book. You will need an email address to register and login to Auckland Council services.
- If your event is within the next 2 days, phone 09 427 3710 to secure your room.
To know more what else is available at any of our locations,
visit Locations and hours.