New Email Reminders: Don’t Be Caught Off Guard with an Expired Library Card!
Library cards expire once a year and must be renewed by visiting a branch in person to show identification. We know this can be inconvenient, so we’re introducing a new way to get advance warning when your expiry date is approaching.
If you’re signed up for email notification, you will now receive a reminder message 30 days before your card expires.
Here’s how to make sure you’ll receive your reminder:
- Sign in to the Notification Settings section of your account.
- Make sure you have selected Email as your preferred notification method.
- Make sure your email address is correct.
Check our Email Notification FAQ or contact us if you need help with your settings.
For those who prefer telephone notification, we will be introducing expiry reminders by telephone before the end of this year.
About library card expiry
Toronto Public Library cards expire annually so we can:
- Ensure that your contact information is current
- Confirm that you are still eligible for a library card
- Collect payment for any outstanding fines on the account
When your card has expired, you can’t borrow or renew items, place holds, or access ebooks and other digital content.
7 thoughts on “New Email Reminders: Don’t Be Caught Off Guard with an Expired Library Card!”
The library card is actually only good for 49 weeks. Those of us who use “self checkout” can’t take out a book if the due date is past the expiry date on our card. So, if my card expires “on” Sept 21, let’s say, I can’t take out any books after August 31. So I renew my card August 31, and the next year my card will expire “on” August 31 and I won’t be able to take out any books after August 10. And so on. (I just edited this because I see that if I have staff check out the book for me in those final weeks, it is supposed to work. In my experience, staff won’t just check out the items, instead they will temporarily renew the card for a week and tell me I need to bring my ID next time or I won’t be able to check out books). Apart from this annual annoyance, I really love the library!
Hi leaside reader,
You’re right – the self-checkout machines prevent you from borrowing an item that would become due before your card expires. This is deliberate, and is intended to prompt you to renew or temporarily extend your card while you’re at the library so you don’t find yourself blocked later on when trying to renew your checkouts from home.
The library may re-evaluate this aspect of self-checkout now that we have a way to notify you 30 days before your card expires.
Thanks for your comment.
Just use a calender to remind yourself, its not a big deal.
Please consider displaying the card expiry date on the TPL account summary page. Most people, including me, would never know when their cards are due for renewal without having to ask library staff in person or seeing that reminder pop up. Thanks!
Hi Michelle,
We’re currently working on a revamp of the account interface, and the card expiry date will be included in the new version. If you’d like to participate in beta testing of the new account, please consider joining our Website Advisory Group.
Thanks for your feedback.
I was supposed to receive an e-mail reminder, but I did not get it; do I still need to pay my fines?
Hi Antonina,
I’m sorry you didn’t receive your reminder email. Please speak to staff at your branch if you have concerns about overdue fines.