Guide to Using the Library

Library members can borrow physical items you can take home and digital items and databases that you can access online.
Digital Members (people who signed up online) can only access online items until they visit a Library branch and confirm their identity (present ID and something showing proof of address)

Physical Items

Beyond books and DVDs, and magazines, the Library also lends:

• videogames
• coding and electronics kits
• a variety of children's learning tools
• Book Club in a Bag kits
• Health and Wellness items, including day passes to provincial and local parks
• Children's learning tools, such as tablets pre-loaded with children's learning activities, read-along books and curriculum kits
• Crafting and Hobby items, including sewing machines and passes to the Art Gallery of Hamilton
• WiFi Hotspots and laptops

Digital Items

• eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive and its Libby app, the Hoopla service and Tumblebooks (kids and teens) and the French-focused Cantook Station. 
• Digital newspapers and magazines through PressReader (and digital magazines from OverDrive and its Libby app)
• Movie and television streaming through Hoopla

Online databases and Learning Tools

• LinkedIn Learning
• Ancestry.com (must be accessed using Library WiFi or a computer station in the Library)
• Historic issues of the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail
• Universal Class (online learning)
• Transparent Language
• Grant Connect fundraising database

See the Digital Services page for links to the services above and to see all the online services you can access with your membership.

The best way to see the entire collection is through our online catalogue. 

Through our online catalogue, you can search by author, keyword or by format. You can also filter and sort your search results to find exactly what you're looking for. Once in the catalogue, you can log in to your online account to reserve or renew items and create reading lists. 

Need help? Visit or call the Library or book an hour of one-on-one time with a Library staff member. 

If you need recommendations, Library staff can also put together a bag of books based on your reading preferences through our Grab and Go service.

You can return books, magazines, DVDs and many other items to either the Main or St. Paul Branch.

You don't need to return your items from the Branch you borrowed them from. Items borrowed from the Kiosk at Wayne Gretzky Sport Centre should be returned to the Kiosk.

Each Library branch has return bins that can be used if returning items when the Library is closed.

Coding and Technology items and larger crafting items (like sewing machines) need to be returned directly to staff at a customer service desk at the Main Branch. 

How long can I borrow items for?

There are different borrowing periods for various collections. 

Here is a list of loan periods for many library items.

You must return Library items by the due date.

While the Library does not charge overdue fines, customers may be billed for an item that is damaged or not returned after the due date. 

If a lost item is found within six-months of paying for it, the item replacement cost will be refunded. 

For damaged items that can be repaired, a $5 damage processing fee will be charged.

Borrowing privileges will be suspended if a person owes more than $20.

You can renew (extend) your loans if the item hasn't been requested by another Library customer.

Items can be renewed

• through your online account
• by calling or visiting the Library
• through our Automated Telephone Renewal Service at 519-756-2399. You will need your 4-digit PIN number to use this service

Your online account can be used to

• reserve items (called placing a hold)
• renew items you have borrowed
• create reading lists 
• see when your items are due

Log into your online account using your Library card number (or personalized username, if set up) and the four-digit PIN you created when joining the Library. If you need this information, please call or visit the Library. 

Watch this video to see how to place a hold using your online account

How many items can I borrow?

We have borrowing limits for most of our items. This borrowing limits table shows this information, along with the amount of time an item can be borrowed for.

We offer

• quiet study rooms at the Main Branch. These can be reserved for two hour blocks up to two-weeks in advance
• printing and photocopying services at both the Main and St. Paul Branches. Print jobs can be sent in advance and released when you arrive
• a Digital Media Lab at the Main Branch with computers equipped with the Adobe Design Suite
• public computer stations that allow people to access the internet and Microsoft Office tools
• assistance using Library services. This is through the drop-in Tech Time service or the one-on-one Book a Librarian service
• A Book Club in a Bag service that allows you to borrow ten copies of one book for six weeks to start your own book club

Yes, we offer two in-person help options to help get you started using our digital services. 

1. The Book a Librarian service gets you one-hour of one-on-one time with a Library staff member

2. Tech Time is a drop-in event where you can ask questions 

You can also watch some brief tutorial videos on many of our digital services.

We offer free programs and events for people of all ages all year long. 

These programs are listed in our online calendar. This calendar can be filtered to show events that fit your interests

The Library also offers Summer Reading programs for adults, teens and children to inspire people to read all summer long

We also offer a free summer tutoring program for children in grades 2-6

We have so many local history resources beyond books. The Main Branch has a large Local History room with microfilm machines and microfiche of local newspapers dating back more than 140 years. 

Our online Your History section has

• a Birth, Marriage, Death Index, which is an index of when and where these announcements appeared in local newspapers. Then, people can find these announcements using our microfilm machine
• a War Memorial database
• a digital archives, which has hundreds of images and PDFs documenting Brantford's past
• Online maps documenting historic events in Brantford

Can children join the Library?

Yes, anyone living in Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations or Cambridge can join the Brantford Public Library for free.

Does my Library membership expire? 

Library memberships can be renewed by calling or visiting a Library Branch. 
Digital memberships expire after one-year.
Memberships with full borrowing privileges expire after two years.

What does it mean that the Library is "Fine free?"

We no longer charge late fines. However, if an item is not returned 21-days after the due date, you will be charged a lost fee. This fee depends on the value of the item that hasn't been returned. If you are unable to return an item by the due date, it's always best to renew an item through your online account or by calling or visiting the Library.