Borrowing & renewing at our locations

A library card is required to borrow books. Eligible borrowers can apply for a library card online or in person, the next time you visit a branch.

Who is eligible for a library card?

The following British Columbia residents are eligible for a Courthouse Libraries library card:

1. Individuals residing in British Columbia in the following categories may borrow circulating material from any of the courthouse libraries:
   1. Members of the Law Society of British Columbia who are: 
      1. Current members in good standing
      2. Registered non-practicing lawyers
      3. Registered retired lawyers
      4. Holders of a Practitioners of Foreign Law permit
      5. Holders of an Interjurisdictional Practice permit
      6. Articled students British Columbia
   2. BC Judges and Masters
   3. Retired Canadian Judges and BC Masters
   4. Judges’ clerks
   5. Law Librarians
   6. Judicial Justices of the Peace
   7. Members of the Society of Notaries Public of BC 

2. Staff employed by a Law Society of British Columbia member, if authorized by the member, may apply for and obtain a library card under their own name. The Law Society member, as a co-signer and the individual’s employer, is responsible for all materials borrowed on that library card.

3. The registered card holder and/or the co-signer is responsible for the library card and any material borrowed on that card. Borrowers will be charged the full replacement cost, plus a processing fee, for any material that is damaged or lost while checked out to them or on their library card.

Loan period

Most items loan for 7 days, but the loan period may vary at the discretion of library staff.

Renewals

2 renewals of 7 additional days are allowed providing:

• the item has not been requested by someone else
• the borrower has no outstanding charges or blocks
• the borrower does not have more than 5 items overdue