Borrow. Renew. Return. Repeat.
With your library card, you can place holds, check out digital items, request delivery by mail, and manage renewals.
Use the library in 3 easy steps
Getting started is easy. Your library card gives you free access to books, movies, digital resources, and more. Follow three simple steps and search the catalog to explore everything you can borrow.
1. Get a library account
Before you can borrow books, movies, or digital materials, you’ll need a library account. Don’t worry—it’s easy. Get started today.
2. Choose how you borrow
3. Return or renew materials
Book return locations
FVRLibraries has book-return bins throughout the district where you can drop off items 24/7. (You can return any FVRLibraries item to any FVRLibraries location or book return. You don't have to take it back to the location you checked it out from.)
Returning items to an exterior or freestanding return usually doesn't remove them from your account right away. Staff need to process the items in order for them to be removed from your list of checkouts, and library return pickup schedules vary.
Book return locations by county
Borrowing from the library FAQs
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Most physical items will automatically renew up to 11 times if no one else has placed a hold on them.
Exceptions:
- "Lucky Day" items, book discussion kits, Discover WA backpacks, or Grow a Reader kits: no renewals
- Educator card checkouts: five renewals
- Bookmobile or Books by Mail checkouts: eight renewals
- Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) checkouts: Renewals are set by the lending library.
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Most accounts may have 50 physical items checked out at one time.
Exceptions:
- "Lucky Day": Two items (and they count as part of your total items)
- Board games: Two items (and they count as part of your total items)
- Limited Card: Three items
- Educator Card: 100 items
- Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad): Three items (includes requests and items checked out)
You may keep most items for three weeks. Check your receipt for the exact date due.
Exceptions:
- Chromebooks for library use only: Two hours
- Book discussion kits: 12 weeks
- Educator Card checkouts: Six weeks
- Bookmobile or Books by Mail checkouts: Four weeks
- Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad) checkouts: Borrowing periods are set by the lending library.
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Any eBook or eAudiobook you borrow will be returned automatically at the end of its checkout period. No overdues ever!
However, if you'd like to return your digital checkout before the due date, here's how:
- Returning books with the Libby app
- Find more ways to return titles from OverDrive
- Return Kindle books via Amazon or return Kindle titles via Libby
- Return books from “Checked Out” in the catalog, by using the “Return” link.
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In the Libby app
If it's within three days of the due date, and there are no holds on the title, you may renew.- Open the app and go to "Shelf."
- Tap "Loans" at the top of the screen.
- Find the title to renew and tap "Manage Loan."
- Tap "Renew Loan," then "Renew."
On the FVRL OverDrive website
If it's within three days of the due date, and there are no holds on the title, you may renew.- Go to your Loans shelf.
- Select the "Renew" button under the title you want to renew.
- Pick a renewal period, then select "Renew" again.
- If a title has holds already, you'll see a "Request Again" button the last 3 days of the checkout period instead of a "Renew" button. Click to place yourself on the hold list.
Note: The new checkout period begins the moment you renew, so if you had two days left on your original lending period and renew for 21 days, the new due date will be in 21 days, not 23.
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You don’t have to! FVRLibraries materials and ILLiad (interlibrary loan) materials can be returned to any our branch, bookmobile, or book return locations.
If you checked out items directly from another library system (like Camas Public Library, Multnomah County, or Hood River), you’ll need to return them to a location in that system.