Borrowing

Joining the Library

Membership of the library is free, but proof of identity with a current Driver’s License or documentation showing your name and current deliverable postal address is required at the time of registration. A parent or guardian must sign a guarantee for borrowers under 18 years of age. You may borrow as soon as you complete your membership form and your membership card is ready (usually immediately).
If you are visiting the area, you can still join the library as a temporary member. There is a restriction to five items at any one time for this membership category. ID such as a current passport is required.

The Berri Barmera Library Service have a broad selection of items available for you to loan.  These include:-

For Loan

  • Fiction – novels, paperbacks, short stories
  • Non-Fiction
  • Graphic novels (also known as Comics)
  • Music CDs
  • DVDs
  • Magazines
  • Audio Books (also known as Talking Books or Hear-a-books)
  • Children’s Picture Books
  • Large Print Books
  • LOTE (Languages Other Than English)
  • CD-ROMs (also know as Computer software)
  • RSL Collection
  • Kindle eBook Readers
  • Berri Regional Secondary College resources for enrolled students
  • Audio-visual equipment (for community groups only)
  • IELTS and other literacy materials for ESL learners

Not for Loan

  • Reference Material
  • Newspapers
  • Local History Collection
  • EWS Heritage Collection
  • Community Information
  • Children’s area toys and puzzles

Loan Periods and Amounts

Up to 100 items at any one time may be borrowed. Loan periods and restrictions are listed below:

  • Books – 4 week loan
  • Magazines – 2 week loan
  • CD-ROMs – 2 week loan
  • CDs – 2 week loan
  • DVDs – 2 week loan
  • Audio Books – 4 week loan
  • Kindle e-reader – 2 week loan
  • AV equipment to community group – strictly overnight
  • Visitor Borrowers – 5 items, (loan periods as above)

Borrowers are responsible for lost or damaged items and if, after an initial overdue reminder notice, these items are not returned, an account will be sent. An account processing fee of $5.00 will then apply, however this will automatically cancel when  all items are returned. If you wish to extend the loan period of the items you have borrowed, please telephone the library, ask at the circulation desk when you next visit or access our Web catalogue.
You are welcome to ask library staff to reserve any item out on loan that you wish to borrow or try accessing the 24/7 online catalogue to place holds on items yourself. You will need an active PIN to log on (should be your date of birth in YYYYMMDD format unless you have changed it). We will SMS your mobile or post a notification when the item is available. If we don’t have a resource that you want in our Berri or Barmera libraries, we can probably get it for you from another library in South Australia. Just ask a friendly staff member to assist you!
Suggestions for acquisitions to the library collection are always welcome from our customers. We will record and act upon them where possible.