Skip to Content

Greater Sudbury Public Library Logo version

Contact Us icon
Hours and locations
Main Library Map It
Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Monday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday  9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday  9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 
Thursday  9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

All libraries

Contact us

My library sign-in

  • About
    us

    About us

    • Get a library card
    • Hours and locations
    • How do I...
    • Jobs at the library
    • Library board and management
    • Municipal services
    • News
    • Policies
    • Volunteering at the library
    • Support my library
  • Books and
    more

    Books and more

    • Borrow materials
    • Genealogy
    • Leisure equipment lending
    • Local history
    • Poet Laureate
    • Request materials
    • Seed library
    • Technology lending
    • The collection
    • The Makerspace
  • Digital
    library

    Digital library

    • Audiobooks and eBooks
    • Digital magazines
    • Online learning and tutorials
    • Online research tools
    • Streaming video
  • Programs and
    services

    Programs and services

    • Accessibility
    • Book clubs
    • Branch services
    • Class visits
    • Events calendar
    • Forest of Reading
    • Homebound services
    • Meeting spaces
    • Sustainability
  • What's
    hot

    What's hot

    • BiblioApps 2.0
    • COVID-19 update
    • Curbside pick-up
    • New Central Library
    • Your next great read

About Us

HomeAbout usPoliciesMembership and circulation policy
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Membership and Circulation Policy

1. Purpose

The Greater Sudbury Public Library (GSPL) provides equitable access to a wide range of resources and services. This policy outlines the conditions of use for these resources and services.

2. Membership Types

GSPL provides two membership types: Passport and Access.

2.1 Access

An Access membership allows members to access library computers and some electronic resources. Access members may borrow one (1) circulating library material at a time.

A free Access membership is available to any individual; proof of residency is not required for this membership type.

Access memberships automatically expire after one year.

2.2 Passport

A Passport membership allows members to borrow circulating library materials and to access library computers and electronic resources.

A free Passport membership is available to any individual that meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • A resident of the City of Greater Sudbury
  • An active student of a post-secondary institution within the City of Greater Sudbury

A Passport membership may be purchased by anyone who does not meet the above criteria at the cost of $5.00 per month or $20.00 per year.

Valid proof of address is required at the time of registration. Acceptable forms of identification are outlined in Section 3 (Identification Requirements) below. Members may be required to provide valid identification on an on-going basis in order to maintain this membership type.

All GSPL users, regardless of membership type, agree to comply with this and all other policies of the Greater Sudbury Public Library. All registrations must be made in-person at any GSPL location.

3. Identification Requirements

Valid identification is required to apply for or renew a GSPL Passport membership. Valid identification must be presented at the branch during the application process or at the request of GSPL staff for card renewal.

Acceptable forms of identification are listed in Table 1 below. We require either a single piece of Type 1 identification or a combination of one Type 2 identification and one Type 3 identification.

All identification must be current (i.e., not expired). Type 3 documents must be dated and issued within the last 2 months.

Library members are required to produce their library card or verify their identity in order to borrow library materials.

A parent or guardian is required to provide valid identification for children under the age of 13 who wish to obtain a Passport membership.

Table 1: Identification Types

Type 1 (Government Issued)

Type 2 (Name)

Type 3 (Address)

Driver's License

Birth Certificate

 Bill or Invoice

Ontario Photo ID Card

Citizenship Card

 Government Cheque

 

Passport

 Current Lease

 

Current Lease

 Legal Document

 

Current Legal Document (Subpoena, Parole, or Bail)

 

 

Employee ID or Benefit Card

 

  Hospital Card  
  Landed Immigration Certificate  
  Ontario Health Card  
  Major Credit Card  
  Status Card  

4. Patron Records

Passport members are expected to communicate any change of address, name or phone number as soon as possible.

Loss or theft of a library card must be reported to any GSPL location as soon as possible. Card holders are responsible for any materials borrowed on their cards until the loss or theft is reported.

Library circulation and member records will be handled in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

5. Circulation of Library Materials

Library materials are available for circulation to members. Non-circulating materials include but are not limited to reference materials, story hour materials and newspapers.

5.1 Restricted Materials

DVDs rated "R" (Restricted) are not circulated to minors and may only be borrowed by library members 18 years of age or older.

GSPL assumes no parental responsibility for monitoring or restricting a child's use of library materials. GSPL and its staff will not restrict a child's borrowing privileges in any way beyond the restrictions identified in this policy.

Remote access to electronic products may be restricted based on licensing agreements.

5.2 Renewals

Most circulating items may be renewed twice if there are no active reserves with the exception of non-reservable materials. Renewals may be further limited on certain material types according to demand.

5.3 Notification

Members will be notified of overdue material by email or telephone. Members are responsible for ensuring that the email address or telephone number provided are accurate.

6. Fines and Fees

6.1 Fines

Fines accumulate in accordance with the schedule outlined in Table 2 below to a maximum of $10.00 per item, with the exception of snowshoes ($25.00 per item).

6.2 Replacement Fees

Members are responsible for all items borrowed on their card. Members will be billed for lost and damaged items at the replacement cost plus any outstanding fines/charges owing on the material.

If an item for which replacement costs have been charged is returned in good condition within a period of six months the replacement costs will be reimbursed. Any associated fines owing will remain outstanding; fines paid will not be reimbursed.

Items with missing parts are considered damaged.

6.3 Exemptions

Members registered as a Homebound Client are exempt from fines.

Fines may be reduced or waived at the discretion of the Manager of Libraries and Heritage Resources or the Manager of Citizen Services (or their designate).

6.4 Outstanding Fines and Fees

A member will not be able to check out materials if they:

  • Owe $10.00 or more in fines or invoiced accounts
  • Have billed items

Reserves cannot be placed for members with a blocked account.

Outstanding members with accounts in the amount of $50.00 or more will be referred to a credit bureau. Members will receive a warning letter before the account is referred to the credit bureau.

7. Schedule of Library Fines and Fees

Table 2: Fines, Lending Periods, and Item Limits
Material Type Lending Period Fine Renewal Limit Item Limit*
Books, paperbacks, audiobooks 21 days $0/day 2 None
Children's books, paperbacks, audiobooks 21 days $0/day 2 None
Magazines 7 days $0/day 2 None
Children's magazines 7 days $0/day 2 None
CDs 7 days $0/day 2 None
DVDs 7 days $0/day 1 10
Express Books 7 days $0/day 0 None
Express DVDs 2 days $0/day 0 3
Interlibrary Loan Varies $0/day 0 6
3D Objects 7 days $0/day 0 1
Snowshoes 7 days $0/day 0 1
Board Games 7 days $0/day 0 None
Arts Pass 7 days $0/day n/a 1
Chromebooks 7 days $0/hour 2,
if there are no holds
1
Wi-Fi Hotspot 7 days $0/day 2,
if there are no holds
1
Replacement Charges
Snowshoes $100.00
Chromebooks $473.00
Wi-Fi Hotspot device
Wi-Fi Hotspot case
$200.00
$40.00
Adult, Teen, Child Library Card Free
Non-Resident Membership (per person)
12 months $20.00
1 month $5.00
Photocopying / Printing (letter and legal size paper, per side)
Black and White Photocopying/Printing (single-sided) $0.15
Black and White Photocopying/Printing (double-sided)      $0.20
Colour Photocopying/Printing (single-sided)      $0.25
Colour Photocopying/Printing (double-sided)      $0.40 
Faxing (per sheet)
Within Canada $1.00
Local faxing of resumés Free
Head Sets
Ear bud head sets (1 pair) $1.50
Interlibrary Loan
Microfilm $2.00/reel 
Photographs
Digitization $20.00/image
Digital Reproduction $10.00/image
Print Reproduction (5" x 7") $10.00/image
Print Reproduction (8.5" x 11") $10.00/image
Makerspace
3D Printer Filament $0.10/gram
Vinyl (24" roll) $0.25/linear inch
Vinyl (12" roll) $0.15/linear inch
T-Shirt Vinyl $5.00/sheet
Iron-On Transfer Paper $1.50/sheet
Button Blanks  $5.00 for 20
$10.00 for 50

*Limits apply to Passport membership type only. Access membership is limited to one (1) item at a time.

Table 3: Meeting Room Rentals
Library Meeting Room Capacity Equipment Charge (per hour)
Capreol Library
Room 1 5   $7.00
Room 2 40   $8.00
Room 3 40   $8.00
Chelmsford Library
Room 1 12 LCD Monitor $13.00
Main Library
Room 1 40 Smart TV $20.00
Room 2 12   $8.00
Makerspace 25 LCD Monitor $20.00
New Sudbury Library
Sinclair Room 16 to 24 LCD Monitor $15.00
South End Library
Conference Room 16 to 24 TV/DVD Player $20.00
Meeting Room AB 16 to 24 Smartboard/Projector $20.00
Meeting Room A 8 to 12 Smartboard/Projector $15.00
Meeting Room B 8 to 12   $15.00
Valley East
Multipurpose Room 60 LCD Monitor $25.00

Date implemented: July 1, 2018

Last updated: June 21, 2018

About us
    • Get a library card
    • Hours and locations
      Toggle Section Hours and locations Menu
      • Azilda Gilles Pelland Public Library
      • Capreol Public Library and Citizen Service Centre
      • Chelmsford Public Library and Citizen Service Centre
      • Coniston Public Library
      • Copper Cliff Public Library
      • Dowling Public Library and Citizen Service Centre
      • Garson Public Library and Citizen Service Centre
      • Levack / Onaping Public Library
      • Lively Public Library and Citizen Service Centre
      • Main Public Library
      • New Sudbury Public Library
      • South End Public Library
      • Valley East Public Library and Citizen Service Centre
    • How do I...
    • Jobs at the library
    • Library board and management
      Toggle Section Library board and management Menu
      • GSPL Board meeting minutes
    • Municipal services
    • News
    • Policies
      Toggle Section Policies Menu
      • Community information policy
      • Computer use guidelines policy
      • Internet use policy
      • Library use policy
      • Materials selection policy
      • Meeting room policy
      • Membership and circulation policy
      • Pets and service animals in the library policy
      • Safe child policy
    • Support my library
      Toggle Section Support my library Menu
      • Make a financial donation
      • Programs to donate to
    • Volunteering at the library

Contact Us

View our Facebook Page View our Twitter Page View our Instagram Page View our YouTube Page
Subscribe to this page

Greater Sudbury Public Library footer logo

Follow Us

View our Facebook Page View our Twitter Page View our Instagram Page View our YouTube Page

Main Public Library
74 Mackenzie Street
Sudbury, ON P3C 4X8
Phone: (705) 673-1155
Fax: (705) 673-0554
Email Us

Other Locations

Hours and locations
Contact us

© 2022 Greater Sudbury Public Library

  • Sitemap
  • Policies
  • Hours and locations
  • Contact us
  • Careers
  • Feedback
By GHD Digital

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.