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Library

Show All Answers

1. What are the library's hours?

Monday - Thursday: 11am - 8pm

Friday - Sunday: 11am - 5pm

2. How do I contact the library?

Phone: (408) 354-6891

E-Mail: library@losgatosca.gov

Chat With Us Live! (open hours only)

3. Where is the library?

4. On what days is the library closed?

Holidays & Other Library Closures 2020

• New Year’s Day, January 1st- 3rd
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 20th
• Presidents Day, February 17th
• Memorial Day, May 25th
• Library Building Maintenance, June 5th
• Independence Day, July 4th
• Labor Day, September 7th
• Thanksgiving, November 26th & 27th
• Winter Holiday, December 24th through December 27th
• New Years, December 31st through January 3rd

5. How do I get a library card?

• During these difficult times you can E-mail us, call us (408) 354-6891, or chat with us and receive a library card number virtually as good as a real library card.  A physical library card will be mailed to you. 
• Adults can 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. 

6. Can I use my school ID as a library card?

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

7. What library programs and events are coming up?

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.

8. How long can I keep library books/movies?

Standard Loan Period --- 3 weeks
Feature DVDs --- 1 week
Children's DVDs --- 1 week
Bestseller Books --- 1 week
Bestseller DVDs --- 3 days 

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

9. How do I renew library materials?

• 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.

10. What are the fines for late library items?

• 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.

11. What if I lose or damage a library item?

You will be billed for a replacement plus a processing fee:

• Adult book/AV item: $10.00
• Teen/Children's book/AV item: $5.00   
• Adult paperback: $5.00
• Magazine: $5.00

Or:

You may bring in an exact copy of the lost/damaged item to avoid the replacement cost and reduce the processing fee to $2.00.

12. Can I still borrow library materials if I have unpaid fines?

Your borrowing privileges will be suspended if you owe more than $20.00 and restored when your balance is brought below $20.00.

13. Does the library accept donations?

Normally yes, but during these difficult times we are not accepting any donations. All donations in the future will be handled by the Friends of Los Gatos Public Library.

14. How do I use library e-books/e-resources?

You can find detailed written and video instructions for most of our e-books and e-resources at our Los Gatos Library Academy.  You can also contact us during our open hours for more specific assistance.

15. What is my library PIN?

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

16. Can I request an item that the library doesn’t have?

You can request that we purchase the item by logging into your account and filling out an online Suggestion for Purchase or calling our reference desk at (408)354-6896.

17. How do I place a hold on a library item?

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.

18. How much does printing/scanning at the library cost?

• Printing in black & white costs 15 cents per side
• Printing in color costs 25 cents per side
• Scanning is free, but please be sure to bring a USB drive

19. Does the library have wireless printing?

Yes. Visit https://printeron.net/losgatos/library for more information.

20. How do I apply to be a library volunteer?

You can learn more about our volunteer opportunities and process on our Volunteering page.

21. My library card was lost or stolen. What do I do?

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.  

22. How many library items can I check out?

• Items checked out at one time -- 99 per card
• Feature DVDs -- 10 per card
• Bestseller DVDs -- 3 per card

23. Does the library have a meeting room I can reserve?

We do not have any reservable spaces at the Los Gatos Library.  Meeting rooms are available at the Santa Clara County Libraries and the San Jose City Library.

24. Where can I park?

• 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.

25. How can I view my library checkout history?

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.

26. What are the expected behaviors in the library?

A full list of the Library Rules of Conduct can be found on our Standard Operating Procedures page.