Frequently Asked Questions

Monday - Sunday: 10am - 6pm

Phone: (408) 354-6891

E-Mail: library@losgatosca.gov

Chat With Us Live! (open hours only)

Holidays & Other Library Closures 2025

• New Year’s Day, January 1st
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19th
• Presidents Day, February 16th
• Memorial Day, May 25th
• Juneteenth Day, June 19th
• Independence Day, July 4th  
• Labor Day, September 7th
• Veteran's Day, November 11th
• Thanksgiving, November 26th and 27th
• Winter Holiday, December 24th to 27th
• New Year's December 31 and January 1

• Adultscan obtain a Los Gatos library card with
  • a government issued I.D. and
  • proof of a current California address (if different from I.D.)
• Students ages 13-18 can obtain a library card with a valid student I.D.
• Children 13 and under can obtain a card without any identification, so long as a legal guardian is present and can verify contact information. 

K-12 students are able to use their student IDs as a library card.  Please see our Student Success Initiative page for more information.

Our full listing of upcoming events can be found on our homepage.

For more information about recurring events, check our Adult Programs or Children's Programs pages.

You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter to be alerted when new events are announced.

Standard Loan Period --- 3 weeks
Feature DVDs --- 3 week
Children’s DVDs --- 3 week

All items will auto-renew twice if no hold exist on the item. We no longer charge for late fees.

You can check your due dates by logging into Your Account.

• Items renew automatically on their due date as long as nobody has placed a hold on them.
• Items will renew twice automatically before they need to be returned.
• You will receive e-mail reminders and notifications about renewal status and due dates.  
• You can check your current due dates and renewal status by logging into Your Account.

• As of July 2020, the Los Gatos Library is fines free.  We are no longer charging daily fines for overdue materials.  Fees will still apply for lost or damaged materials.

Due to budget adjustments for the fiscal year 2024-2025, the Hotspot circulation program will be discontinued as of December 1, 2024  ·

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We have a new policy for lost or damaged items.  Please visit us at the circulation desk to inquire about the process.

Thank You!

Please return the hotspot device and charging cables to the Los Gatos Library in person or through the book drop.

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Your borrowing privileges will be suspended if you owe more than $100.00 and restored when your balance is brought below $100.00.

 Yes, we are only accepting donations Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1-3PM (100 Book limit/ per visit) by the Friends of Los Gatos Public Library.

Unless you requested otherwise, your PIN is the last 4 digits of your phone number.

You can request that we purchase the item by logging into your account and filling out an online Suggestion for Purchase or calling at (408) 354-6890 Monday-Friday 10AM-6PM.

You can place a hold using our online catalog.  We'll send you an e-mail when it's ready. You'll find it on the shelves just past the circulation desk and new releases.  In order to pick up a hold from the library you must use the same library card that was used to placed the hold.

• Printing in black & white costs 15 cents per side
• Printing in color costs 25 cents per side

Yes. Visit https://www.losgatosca.gov/2678/Wireless-Printing for more information.

Currently we are not accepting applications for new volunteers. You can learn more about our volunteer opportunities and process on our Volunteering page.

Let us know right away!  Call us at (408) 354-6891 or stop in ASAP.  Please be aware that you are responsible for any charges made to your account until it has been reported as missing.  

• Items checked out at one time -- 99 per card
• DVDs -- 25 per card

Yes, we do. We have 2 rooms available for 90-minutes a day at no cost, reservations are made online.

• During the weekdays M-F until 5PM both the Civic Center Lot and Library Lot (east side of the library building) are available for 90 minute increments.  Street parking in the Olive Zones is also available for 90 minute increments. 
• Re-parking is allowed only from the civic center lot or library lot to the Olive Zone street parking. Or from the Olive Zone to one of the lots. Re-parking in the same zone or lot is not permitted and your vehicle could be cited.
• During the weekend and designated holidays both parking lots and street parking are open for unrestricted use unless otherwise signed.

To protect your privacy, we do not normally track the materials you have checked out. If you would prefer to maintain a checkout history, you can enable it by logging into your account, selecting "your privacy", and changing your privacy rules.

A full list of the Library Rules of Conduct can be found on our Library Policies page.

Pets are not allowed inside the Library. Service animals are allowed per ADA guidelines. Service animals must be under the control of the owner. 

If the Library is operating as a Santa Clara County Cooling or Warming Center, pets will be allowed in the building.  To determine whether the Library is activated as a County Cooling Center, check the website or call us at 408-354-6890.  Please be aware of the following:

• All dogs must be on a leash (retractable leashes are not recommended) or in crates or carriers.

• Cats should be in a suitable crate. At a minimum, they must be secured with a harness and leash.
• Waste clean-up supplies (litter, litter box, poop bags) must be provided by owner. 
• Other animals (rabbits, birds, etc.) must be contained in suitable crate.
• Owners must maintain possession of their animal(s) at all times.
• A guest may not bring more pets than they are reasonably able to control.

When the emergency weather event ends, we will revert to our standard policy, and pets will not be allowed in the building.