Cards & Account » Borrowing & Returning

Checking Out & Renewing

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Font Size: + -

Card Limits

All Cardholders Except TexShare

Total of 40 items:

  • Up to 3 Board Games
  • Up to 1 Launchpad OR Kids Launchpad
  • Up to 1 Juvenile Kit (Early Literacy, Hooked on Phonics, STEM, or Tonies)
  • Up to 5 Wonderbooks
  • Up to 1 Hotspot—Carrollton (resident) cardholders only
  • Up to 1 Tool Kit—Carrollton (resident) cardholders only

TexShare Cardholders

Total of 5 items

Borrowing Rules

Borrowing, Renewing, and Requesting Rules Table
Item Loan Period Item Limit1 Renewals2 Requestable by Hold
Board Game 3 weeks Up to 3 3 yes
Book 3 weeks Up to 40 3 yes
Book on CD 3 weeks Up to 40 3 yes
DVD 3 weeks Up to 40 3 yes
Hotspot3 2 weeks Up to 1 0 yes
Juvenile Kit4 3 weeks up to 1 3 yes
Launchpad or Kids Launchpad 3 weeks Up to 1 3 yes
Playaway 3 weeks Up to 40 3 yes
Tool Kit3 2 weeks Up to 1 0 yes
Wonderbook 3 weeks Up to 5 3 yes

1The full borrowing limit on the total number of items checked out on a card is 40 except for TexShare cardholders whose limit is FIVE.

2Manual renewal adds 21 days to the DATE YOU RENEWED. Automatic renewal happens 5 days before items are due and adds 21 days to the ORIGINAL DUE DATE.

3Hotspot and Tool Kit checkout limited to Carrollton residents with cards.

4Juvenile Kits include Early Literacy Kits, Hooked on Phonics Kits, STEM Kits, and Tonies Kits.

How to Check Out

Items four-days overdue block checking out and renewing ever since overdue fines were eliminated September 15, 2021.

Inside the Library

Bring your Carrollton Public Library card, a mobile device with your digital barcode, or your government-issued photo ID with you to the Library.*

Getting Your Digital Barcode

Your Online Account

A digital barcode is one of the features of our new catalog.

  1. Sign in to your account in the catalog on your mobile device with your card number OR username AND your PIN/Password.
  2.  Tap the user icon for your account to open the account menu,
    user icon for account
  3. Select "Your Library Card" from the menu to get a barcode to scan at the SelfCheck machines, the desk, or the drive-up window,
    example of scannable barcode and card number in your account
CloudLibrary App

If you are signed in to the CloudLibrary app, then you have a digital barcode for your card number.

  1. Open the CloudLibrary app on your mobile device.
  2. Tap the barcode icon in the upper right corner.
    barcode icon in cloudLibrary app
  3. A digital card opens with a a barcode to scan at the SelfCheck machines, the desk, or the drive-up window,
    digital version of Library card with barcode in cloudLibrary app

Have your physical card or digital barcode?

  1. Find item(s) to borrow
  2. Bring card or mobile device with your digital barcode, plus item(s) to one of our RFID SelfCheck machines
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen to check out - you can place a few items on the pad at a time - and watch for the background behind each item's title to turn GREEN
    self check machine
  4. If you hear an alert sound and the background behind the item title is RED, then place that item back on the pad to get the security turned off, so the gate will not alarm as you exit.
  5. Tap Done when finished.
  6. Select how you want your receipt.

Only have your ID?

  1. Find item(s) to borrow
  2. Bring ID plus item(s) to the Service Desk
  3. Staff will check out item(s) to you

*Your ID, along with proof of address if not current on ID, is required to renew an expired account.

Drive-up Holds Window

You can only use the Drive-up Holds Window to check out your available holds or return items you may not place in the outside book drop.

  1. Place your hold(s) on item(s) you want to borrow.
  2. WAIT for the Hold Available Notice email or the hold STATUS in your online account to show ready for pick up.
  3. Check your online account and pay any charges that would block check out BEFORE driving to the Library.
  4. Bring your Carrollton Public Library card, digital barcode on your mobile device, or government-issued photo ID with you.
  5. Drive to the Holds Window at the pickup location indicated in the email or your account.
  6. Show your Library card, digital barcode, or photo ID.
  7. Staff will retrieve and check out your available hold(s).

How to Renew Items

Automatic Renewals

As of December 20, 2022, eligible items automatically renew FIVE DAYS BEFORE the due date - up to 3 times - unless one of the Restrictions Causing Renewal to Fail in the section below applies.

The new due date will be 3 weeks from the ORIGINAL DUE DATE and can be viewed in your online account. An email notice is sent indicating which items renewed and which did not.

You will receive a reminder notice for anything not eligible for automatic renewal.

Restrictions Causing Renewal to Fail

  • Items four-days overdue item
  • Card is expired
  • $10 or more is owed on card
  • There is a hold on the title
  • Item has been renewed the maximum number of times (3)
  • Item ineligible for renewal - hotspot or tool kit

Manual Renewals

You can manually renew eligible items before the automatic renewal happens. You may also be able to self-renew items that failed to renew automatically, if the reason automatic renewal failed has been resolved.

The new due date will be 3 weeks from the DATE YOU RENEWED.