There’s nothing worse than a lousy library. Your library might have a tiny budget or never buy the books you really want to check out or the hold lines on Libby are fifty years long.
Good news!
There are lots of places to get library cards for non-residents (even better, many of them are free non-resident library cards!).
But even if they aren’t free non-resident library cards, it may be worth $50-100 a year for you to have access to the library catalog of a much bigger collection.
Take a look at the list below for some of the options!
Paid and free online library cards for non residents
COLORADO
El Paso Pikes Peak Library Anyone in the state of Colorado can apply for a library card here! You can apply online here, but will need to provide proof of residency in person within 30 days of submitting your application.
CONNECTICUT
New Haven Public Library Connecticut residents from other towns are eligible for a library card at this location. You must present a valid hometown library card that shows the expiration date and a photo ID to be added to NHFPL’s system and be eligible to borrow. If you don’t have proof of address, you may still be able to borrow digital resources. All you need to do is contact the library location nearest you and ask to be added.
DELAWARE
Dover Public Library Anyone in the state of Delaware can apply for a library card here and gain access to their digital resources right away! You can apply here!
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
GEORGIA
Georgia Public Library Any Georgia resident is eligible for a Pines library card at this location! Here is where you can apply!
HAWAII
Hawaii State Public Library System Any resident or military personnel can get a free library card here! If you are a non-resident, you can apply for a card for $25 for FIVE YEARS!! That makes it only $5 a year - this one is a no-brainer! Application details here - note that you have to apply for a card in person (not online!) and you’ll need a photo ID and proof of address.
IDAHO
Boise To obtain a non resident card, you can pay an annual fee of $75. Non resident senior citizens over the age of 62 may purchase a non resident card for an annual fee of $20.00.
ILLINOIS
Chicago Public Library If you are an Illinois resident living in a community with a reciprocal library, you can get a library card to the Chicago Public Library. Here is the list of reciprocal libraries they accept! The list is robust, so it’s definitely worth taking a peek. My assistant, Analese lives about two hours away from Chicago and her library is on the list. Unfortunately, you do have to apply in person.
INDIANA
Public Library Access Card (aka PLAC card) - is the name for the statewide library card allowing any individual to purchase a card for $65 a year, allowing them to borrow materials directly from any public library in Indiana. These cards can be purchased at any Indiana library!
IOWA
KANSAS
Topeka and Shawnee Public Library Non-residents of Topeka and Shawnee can get a library card for an annual fee of $85! Apply in person.
KENTUCKY
Lexington Public Library If you don’t live in Fayette, you can get a library card at the Lexington location for only $10. From what I can tell, this is a one time fee. Apply here!
LOUISIANA
MICHIGAN
Library of Michigan All Michigan residents are eligible for Library of Michigan library cards.
MINNESOTA
Anoka Public Library Residents of other Minnesota library districts may use the Anoka County Library. A valid library card issued from their local public library will be required in order to obtain a library card here.
St. Paul Public Library You can stop by this location any time to and register your card from another Minnesota library. They also offer non-resident cards for those that live in Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin. They are $60 annually. Keep in mind that the non-resident cards do not include access to Overdrive/Libby.
MISSISSIPPI
Central Mississippi Library Non-residents can purchase a card for $25 annually!
Madison County Library Madison County Library offers a non-resident card for $30 each year! Apply in person.
MONTANA
Billings Public Library Residents of Montana are eligible for a library card at no charge. Non residents of Montana may purchase a regular library card for $20 a year.
NEBRASKA
Omaha Public Library Anyone not living with the Douglas County boundaries can purchase a non resident library card. They have a few options: monthly membership for $6.25, 4 months for $25, or 12 months for $75. Non resident borrowers must register in person at any OPL location.
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
Cardinal System A ton of North Carolina library systems share their online catalog and allow residents of those counties to check out from any of the participating libraries. See the map of participating libraries here!
Given Memorial Library in Pinehurst Anyone living in the state of North Carolina can get a library card through this system. Application here.
Southern Pines Public Library At this library you can get a full access library card for $60 annually if you are a non-resident of Southern Pines. If you want limited access (youth card), you pay $20 for a full year. You can register online for a card here, but you will need to go into the library upon 30 days of registration to verify address. You will not have access to Libby until you verify address and pay annual fee.
Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library A non resident card for the Charlotte Mecklenburg library is $45 a year. You can apply here.
NORTH DAKOTA
Fargo Public Library Paid non-resident library cards are available at this location for only $20 a year!
PENNYSLVANIA
RHODE ISLAND
Providence Public Library This library offers a non-resident library card for $155 a year.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Georgetown Public Library Anyone living outside of the county lines and non-residents of South Carolina can purchase a card for only $8!!
Richland County Library Snag this non-resident library card up for $65 a year!
SOUTH DAKOTA
Rapid City Public Library Persons who do not qualify for a resident library card may obtain a non-resident card for the following fees: $110.00 per card per year or $9.25 per card per month.
TENNESSEE
Nashville Public Library If you lived outside of the Davidson County boundaries, you can purchase a non resident library card for only $10 a year! One of the cheapest I’ve seen!
Knox County Library If you are a resident of Tennessee, but don’t live within Knox County, you are still eligible for a library card! These non resident cards cost $40 annually.
TEXAS
UTAH NON-RESIDENT LIBRARY CARDS
VERMONT
Waterbury Public Library Non-residents can sign up for a Library card/account by paying the $25 annual non-resident fee.
Aldrich Public Library Get a non-resident library card at this location for $25 a year or $20 a year with a limit of 10 checkouts.
WEST VIRGINIA
WYOMING
Teton County Library Get a non-resident card at the Teton County Library for $20 annually!
Campbell County Library If you don’t live within the county boundaries, you can still obtain an out-of-county card for $3. If you are a non-resident, you can get a card for $5! Here is where you can apply. Keep in mind, the default address only has the option for WY as the state, so you might have to call to secure a non-resident card.
If you liked this post about who offers a non resident library card, you might also like these other posts:
- 12 Tips For When Your Library is Lousy
- How to Request Your Library Purchase a Book
- My Favorite Library Bag
