Read the membership terms and conditions for Auckland Council Libraries.
Key responsibilities of membership
- Notify the library of any change to your details.
- Notify the library immediately if your card is lost or stolen.
- Accept responsibility for all items issued and charges incurred against your library membership (or against any library members under the age of 18 for whom you are guarantor), including all items and charges made if your library card is lost or stolen. Once the library has been advised of the loss of the card any subsequent charges will be waived.
- Pay any fees and charges incurred related to library membership, and pay replacement costs for lost or damaged items.
- Agree to follow the bylaws on library use.
Terms and conditions
The terms and conditions are available in the following languages:
1.0 Applications for membership
Every person or organisation who pays rates, rent, or who resides in the district, and meets the library's membership requirements, shall be entitled to a membership. Applicants are required to provide their contact details for the purpose of the library administering their membership. The library will collect and store members’ contact information in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. The library reserves the right to ask any applicant for membership for proof of eligibility, e.g., photo identification or proof of address. Members can take out items free of charge, however the library reserves the right to impose borrowing fees for some items.
2.0 Children's borrowing
Any person under the age of eighteen shall have a membership form completed on their behalf by a parent or guardian. Such parent or guardian shall thereafter be responsible for all items borrowed by that person and all monies owed.
3.0 Unqualified borrowing
Any person who does not qualify under clause 1 to free membership of the library may obtain membership on completion of an application form and payment of a fee, providing such person produces some suitable forms of personal identification.
4.0 Issue of membership card
A librarian shall (subject to the provisions of clause 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 12.0 hereof) issue to each applicant a membership card.
5.0 Use of membership card
Only the library member or a person duly authorised by the member shall make use of a membership card. The membership card must be presented for the receipt of services.
6.0 Fees and charges
All library members agree to be bound by the library fees and charges. The library reserves the right to alter these charges as required.
7.0 Change of address
Every member shall promptly notify the library of any change of address or contact information.
8.0 Borrowing of reference items
No person shall be entitled as of right to borrow any item specified as a reference item. A librarian may however permit a reference item to be borrowed by any member, subject to any conditions laid down.
9.0 Issuing items
The borrower of any item before leaving the library shall have the item formally issued to them.
10.0 Unauthorised taking of items
No person (other than as a borrower) shall take or attempt to take any item or other article from a library.
10.1 Selling items
No person shall knowingly pawn, sell or purchase or secure the advance of money on any item that is the property of the council or attempt to do so.
11.0 Damage to items
If any item is lost, or returned in a damaged or defaced condition, the borrower shall pay to the council a sum of money to replace that item or pay full compensation for any damage or loss incurred by the council. A librarian may deem an item to be lost 24 days after the date on which it was due to be returned to the library.
11.1 Recovery of lost items
If a lost item is subsequently found and returned within two years of the date of borrowing, a refund of all or part of the charge made for the loss may be paid to the borrower at the discretion of a librarian.
12.0 Money owing
All library members agree to pay any fees and charges incurred relating to library membership, including those people for whom guarantor status is accepted. Auckland Libraries may suspend library services to all such persons until such charges are paid in full.
All library members accept responsibility for any items issued and charges incurred against their registration up to the time that a lost or stolen card is reported to the library. Any charges incurred after that date will be waived.
Use of the library
Any person entering a library must not:
- behave in a manner that creates a nuisance or is offensive to any other person
- bring into the library or exhibit any article that is a nuisance or is offensive to any other person
- bring any animal into the library except where authorised by the council
- damage any library property.
The use by any person of any library service or facility must be for legal purposes, and must not result in breach of copyright, breach of privacy rights, unauthorised alteration or deletion of data or website contents, unauthorised access to information or the access or transmission of illegal images or text.