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Library loans, fees and charges

It's free to join libraries and borrow books, but read about our charges for some services such as overdue items and photocopying.

Concessionary rates

Concessionary rates at 50% where applicable are currently available to:

  • Westminster residents who are 60 or over
  • Westminster residents currently receiving Universal Credit (previously Income Support, Working Tax Credits, Housing Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance)
  • library users (regardless of residence) claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Attendance Allowance, Disabled Tax Credits, Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Appropriate documentary proof is required each time concessions are claimed. The Director of Libraries is authorised to modify concessionary eligibility rules for libraries and archives in line with any variation in the benefit system.

From April 1996 concessionary rates were also offered to under 18s on the loan of music recordings and this will continue.

Westminster City Save card, Active Westminster Passport, Senior Passport and WCC StaffCard holders are offered a 20% discount on many charges. This discount is rounded down where appropriate in order to present customers with clearer and more convenient pricing.

Library users claiming universal credit are entitled to an additional hour’s use of public PCs at no extra cost. Please enquire with library staff on site for further details.

Visually impaired customers now receive better customer service by the removal of the requirement to produce, on every visit to the library, documentary proof of eligibility for exemptions. The concession status is now added to the computer system on enrolment (or on production of documentary proof) and this removes exempt charges automatically. The exemptions include charges such as reservations for audio items and loan of music recordings and talking books.

Published: 24 December 2020

Last updated: 3 April 2023