Registration
All residents or property owners in Knox County are eligible for a free library account. Tennessee residents who live outside Knox County may purchase a library account for an annual fee of $40.00. Institutional accounts for businesses, schools or organizations are not issued.
By completing and signing an application, the individual agrees to comply with all rules and policies. These include paying overdue fines, replacing or paying for lost or damaged material, and giving notice within ten days if the card is lost or stolen.
Account privileges
Patrons may borrow a total of 50 physical items at a time. Format limits apply. Most items are loaned for three weeks and may be renewed three times unless there are holds.
Loan policy by type
Physical
| PHYSICAL FORMAT | NUMBER | CHECK OUT PERIOD | NUMBER OF RENEWALS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print Books |
50 |
3 weeks |
3 |
| CD Audiobooks |
15 |
3 weeks |
3 |
| DVDs, Adult |
15 |
3 weeks |
3 |
| DVDs, Children |
15 |
3 weeks |
3 |
| Music CDs |
15 |
3 weeks |
3 |
| Vinyl Records |
15 |
3 weeks |
3 |
| Launchpads |
2 |
1 week |
3 |
| Views |
5 |
1 week |
3 |
| Storytime-to-go kits |
1 |
3 weeks |
0 |
Digital
| DIGITAL FORMAT | NUMBER | CHECK OUT PERIOD | NUMBER OF RENEWALS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Music/Video |
5 per month per vendor |
Depends on format/vendor |
Depends on format/vendor |
| eBooks |
15 |
3 weeks |
Unlimited if no holds |
| D-Audiobooks |
15 |
3 weeks |
Unlimited if no holds |
Physical items, except for Storytime-to-Go kits, may be renewed up to three times. Items are renewed automatically unless the renewal limit has been reached or there is a hold on the item. If an item is not eligible for renewal, the patron is notified by email 3 days before the item is due.
Holds
All circulating items may be placed on hold. There is a limit of 25 holds per card. To place holds the patron must have an unexpired library card that is not restricted. Requested items can be sent to any library location except the East Tennessee History Center. Patrons are notified when holds are available via email, text, online library account, or the Postal Service. Holds are held at the pickup location for 8 days.
Suggest a purchase
A patron can suggest the purchase of a title currently in publication but not owned by the Knox County Public Library by submitting the online “Suggest a Purchase” form.
Interlibrary loan
If a title is not owned by the Library, it may be eligible for borrowing through Interlibrary Loan.
Library cards
Presentation of a library card or personal identification is required for account access or to check out materials.
Patrons must report a lost or stolen card within ten days. Failure to do so could result in the patron being charged for materials checked out after the card’s loss. Once reported the account will be deactivated, and a new card will be issued when the patron presents picture ID.
Overdues
Notice
Overdue notices are provided as a courtesy for library patrons who have not returned library materials on time.
Fine schedule
| FORMAT | FINE |
|---|---|
| BOOKS (PRINT) |
.20 per day up to $5.00 |
| AUDIOBOOKS (CD) |
.20 per day up to $5.00 |
| MUSIC CDs |
.20 per day up to $5.00 |
| DVDs/BLU-RAY |
$1.00 per day up to $5.00 |
| LAUNCHPADS |
$1.00 per day up to $5.00 |
| VIEWS |
$1.00 per day up to $5.00 |
| STORYTIME-TO-GO KITS |
$5.00 per day up to $25.00 |
Fines are not generated when the library system is closed for holidays. If the library is closed due to inclement weather, overdue fines may be cancelled individually.
Damaged or lost material
The account holder is responsible for all repair or replacement costs for materials lost or damaged except for that incurred through normal wear and tear which is defined as deterioration that can be reasonably expected to occur over time or from handling. Examples are loose bindings, slight discoloration or fading of pages or covers, slight scratches on discs, etc.
Minor damage is defined as damage that can be easily repaired by library staff. This includes torn book jackets and missing barcodes.
Major damage is defined as items damaged beyond repair. This includes any water damage, mildew, soiled or stained pages, vermin infestation, chewed corners or pages, pen or pencil markings, odors that do not dissipate in 24 hours.
The patron may pay the replacement price of the item as listed in the catalog record or bring in an acceptable replacement. The library provides guidelines for replacement copies and maintains the right to refuse items that do not meet those guidelines.
Payment for lost or damaged items can be made at any library location except for the East Tennessee History Center. For bookkeeping purposes, partial payments for lost or damaged material cannot be accepted. A single payment for a lost or damaged item must be made so that one receipt per item can be issued.
Overdue fines are cancelled for material that has been lost and paid or damaged and paid.
Materials reported lost due to fire, flood or theft must be documented by an insurance claim or police report filed within 48 hours of the incident.