Learn more about our borrowing periods, renewals and fines.
| Item | Time | Renews? |
|---|---|---|
| Books & Audiobooks (includes Playaways & Launchpads) | 4 weeks | Yes |
| *New books (Ground Floor) | 2 weeks | Yes/No if EXPRESS |
| *New J/YA books (3rd Floor & Teen Room) | 4 weeks | Yes/No if EXPRESS |
| DVDs | 2 weeks | Yes/No if EXPRESS |
| Music CDs | 2 weeks | Yes |
| STEAM Kits | 2 weeks | Yes |
| Takeout Tech (Chromebooks, Hotspots, GoPros, etc) | 2 weeks | Yes |
| Magazines | 1 week | No |
| Video Games | 1 week | No |
| Commonwealth Catalog items | 4 weeks | No |
|
ILL items** **Interlibrary Loan (ILL) items are picked up from the Question & Answer desk, and loan periods on these items vary |
varies | No |
Renewing Materials
All materials eligible for renewal will automatically renew for up to two additional load periods.
The automatic renewal will not happen if:
- The item has already been renewed twice
- It is an Express book or DVD, or a Video Game
- The item was borrowed from a library outside of the Minuteman Library Network
- The item has been requested by other patrons
Fine Free Library
We no longer charge fines on late returns or renewals! Overdue fines were removed in 2021 to promote equal access to our materials for all in our community. Please return your materials promptly so that other patrons may enjoy them.
Billed, Lost and Damaged Materials
When a borrowed item becomes 4 weeks overdue, the Minuteman Library Network will email you a bill for the replacement charge of the item. If you still have the item and return it in good condition, all billed charges will be automatically cleared from your account as soon as the item is checked in.
If you lose an item in our collection or return it with serious damage, you will be assessed the replacement charge listed in the item record. Payment can be made online, or in person by check at any Minuteman library.
We do not accept replacement copies instead of payment, and are unable to issue refunds after payment has been made.
To support families and young readers, we will clear billed replacement charges for lost/damaged Cambridge-owned children's and young adult items under most circumstances, even if you cannot return the item.