Where You Can Get A Non Resident Library Card
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
ALABAMA
Jefferson County Public Library
If you live in the state of Alabama, but not in Jefferson county, you can get a non-resident library card for $50 a year.
ALASKA
Anchorage Public Library
Offers a non-resident library card for $50 a year. They also have an out-of-state visitor card you can get for free for the first 3 months.
ARIZONA
Maricopa County
Non residents may purchase a library card with full borrowing privileges for digital and physical items for $25 (for six months) or $50 (for 12 months). Details here.
ARKANSAS
Central Arkansas Library System
For any patron who does not reside or pay taxes in their service area, CALS offers a non-resident card for an annual fee of $54. They base their annual fee on the average property tax payment per parcel across the service area. Apply here.
CALIFORNIA
Library cards are free to ALL California residents or those who own property in San Diego and for anyone serving in the Armed Forces stationed in San Diego. If you are a non-resident, you can receive a library card for $32.50 a year! Details here.
All library cards are free to any California resident! You can apply online here!
Any California resident may apply for their library card. Apply online here!
Available to all California residents! Click through for the online application for a full access library card or here for access to only the online resources.
Anyone in the state of California can obtain a library card from the Oakland Public Library. Here is where you would apply!
Anyone living in the state of California can get a library card from the San Francisco Library. You do have to apply in person.
This library allows any California resident to obtain a library card. Fill out the online application here. After sending in your application, go to the library to pick up your card. If you can’t make it in person, it will be emailed and mailed out to you after 2-4 business days.
Information on this library was tricky to find online, so a phone call cleared everything up! This library offers FREE full access cards for anyone living is Washoe County and the state of California!! They do offer a limited card for anyone else living in the state of Nevada. The librarian said the limited card allows you to only check out 10 physical items, but gives you access to all of the online resources!
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
Cards are free and can be obtained by completing a registration process and presenting a valid driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or passport in-person. You have to be 16 years or older to obtain a card. Once you’ve received your card, they are valid for two years! You can pre-register online with this form, but will still need to register in person with your valid ID.
FLORIDA
Full access to borrow all Broward County Library materials and use online resources, costs $38 a year for all non-residents. Visit a Broward County Library to obtain card. Here is the application.
Anyone living outside of the servicing area can get a non-resident card for $125 a year. You can purchase that here!
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
Active military personnel and their dependents can get a FREE card here! Non-residents of New Orleans can get a library card for an annual fee of $50!
MAINE
MARYLAND
For those who don’t live within the boundaries for this library, you can still get a non-resident card for only $10 a year! Details here.
MASSACHUSETTS
They don’t offer non-resident cards, but they do allow anyone in the state of MA with an address to get a library card at this library. Details here.
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.
MISSOURI
Kansas City Public Library allows anyone to sign up for free! However, there are limitations. Library privileges consiste of borrowing a limited number of materials from the physical collections and use of the public computers at any KC Library location. The one con, is most digital resources are not available for non-resident patrons. Click here to apply!
You can obtain a non-resident card at the cost of $50 per family for 12 months. Details here.
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.
NEVADA
Washoe County Library
Information on this library was tricky to find online, so a phone call cleared everything up! This library offers FREE full access cards for anyone living is Washoe County and the state of California!! They do offer a limited card for anyone else living in the state of Nevada. The librarian said the limited card allows you to only check out 10 physical items, but gives you access to all of the online resources!
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Concord Public Library
Fill out this application to receive a non-resident library card. The annual cost is $100, but they do have shorter options for cheaper.
Griffin Public Library
Non-resident cards can be obtained here for $35 a year!
NEW JERSEY
Newark Public Library
Newark Public Library has non-resident library cards for $50 a year. Here is the online application!
NEW YORK
Good news on this library – any New York resident can get a free library card! Apply here online!
Anyone living outside of the county limits can get a non-resident card at this location for $25 a year! Apply online here!
If you are 13 or older and live, work, attend school, or pay property taxes in New York State, you can get a free digital library card right now using this online form. Visitors to New York State can also use this form to apply for a temporary card. With a digital library card you get free access to the Library’s wide array of digital resources. You can request physical items with your digital account, but you do need a physical card to complete checkout of these items.
All non New York State residents can obtain an Queens Library card for an annual fee of $50. One Canadian follower said they were even able to take advantage of the non-resident option! Apply here!
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.
You can get a library card here as a non resident for $45 a year. To request a non resident card, you will need to go to any Durham County library.
NORTH DAKOTA
Fargo Public Library
Paid non-resident library cards are available at this location for only $20 a year!
OHIO
Belmont County District Library
This library offers a free library card to any Ohio resident. Out of state residents may purchase a non resident library card for only $5 a year!! The catch to this one, is you can only obtain a library card application in person.
Cincinnati Public Library
A non-resident library card at this location is $90 a year! Here are all the details.
CLEVNET Library Card
Get this library card that spans across a group of 47 library systems across 12 counties. All you need to do is apply here with your phone number!
Columbus Metropolitian Library
Offers a free library card at any 23 different locations. And from what I could tell (I couldn’t test it out since I don’t have an Ohio address), anyone can apply to use digital resources as long as you have an Ohio address. Apply here.
Cuyahoga Co
All Ohio residents are able to get a library card at this location and can use it here or any Cuyahoga county public libraries along with any Cleveland Public library branches and CLEVNET member libraries! Details here.
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma County Library System
You can obtain an annual fee account for $70 per year for the Metropolitan Library System. Another great service offered from this library is Library by Mail! Residents of Oklahoma County over the age of 65 and homebound can have library materials delivered to them!! How amazing it that! Contact Library by Mail at 405-606-3295 for more information.
OREGON
Oregon Library Passport System
Allows card holders from participating Oregon libraries to register and use other participating libraries across the state for FREE!
PENNYSLVANIA
As a non-resident of Pennsylvania, you can get a library card to Carnegie Library for only $30 a year. The card must be renewed at any CPL location. Here is a link to the application!
If you live, work, pay taxes, or go to school in Pennsylvania, you can get a library card for free. Here is where you can apply online!
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
Arlington has an individual non-resident library card option that gives you the opportunity to borrow up to 4 physical items at a time (books, DVDs, CDs, etc.) and have access to eBooks, downloadable audiobooks, databases, learning services for $25 a year. They also have a individual full services program that gives you the same privileges as a resident, with full borrowing including digital and public computer services. Details here.
They have a non-resident library card for $50 a year. Here is a form all about their non-resident cards!
All Texas residents have access to the Houston library! If you don’t live in Texas, but still want a card here, you can purchase a non-resident card for $40 a year. Application for that is here!
UTAH NON-RESIDENT LIBRARY CARDS
Non-Residents cards are available and can be issued with a picture I.D. for one year, or six months. To obtain a Washington County Library Non-Resident card the fee is $33 a year or $20 for six months. A family or household member of a non-resident cardholder may be added for the same duration for a fee of $5.00. Details here.
Non-residents may obtain a Provo City Library Card by paying a fee of $60 for six months or $120 for one year of library use. Details and application here.
Offers a non-resident card for $100 a year or $50 for six months.
Offers a non-resident card for $95 a year. Details here.
Get your non-resident card at this location for $60 a year! You can’t apply online for a library card, but it can easily be obtained by visiting in person.
Obtain a non-resident library card here for $60 a year! From what I’ve heard, you can also use this non-resident card at the Payson library as well!
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.
VIRGINIA
Suffolk Public Library offers FREE library cards to anyone who lives in the state of Virginia OR North Carolina! You can apply right here!
York County Public Library cards are available to all residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, ages 4 and over, free of charge. All you need is ID, proof of Virginia residency and to fill out the library card application available at the circulation desk. Details here.
WASHINGTON
WEST VIRGINIA
At this library, anyone who lives in West Virginia can get a card! If you are not a resident of West Virginia you can get a card for $20 a year. Here is the application.
WISCONSIN
I called here to get some more clarification, but anyone living in the United States can get a free library card here. If you live outside of the state of Wisconsin, you are limited to 3 books out at a time. You need to apply for a library card in person and bring proof of residency.
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.
I’m so tired of seeing this post circulating everywhere because it’s outdated and needs to be updated. San Jose Public Library does not offer e-cards anymore for access to Libby, Hoopla, etc. You have to come in person to upgrade your account to access popular eResources.
If you can update the post that would maybe help with not overwhelming the system, thanks.
Fairfax County went up:
Non-resident Cards—$50 Annual Fee, Annual Expiration
A person who lives in the United States but does not meet the eligibility requirements for a standard or reciprocal FCPL customer may purchase a Non-resident FCPL account.
Non-resident accounts may be purchased for 1-year = $50, 2-years = $75, or 3-years = $100
Non-resident accounts expire after registration or privilege renewal date and are removed from our records 3 months after privilege expiration date if not renewed.
Moon Lake Library, in Mentone in the NE corner of Alabama, gives library cards in person to all non-residents. A lot of people have second homes in the area. There are several kids camps and Lookout Mountain is a tourist area. So, people from a wide variety of places visit the library.
It’s a pretty unique library with their own Ukulele house band- Mentone Ukes. You might also see a knitting group, Scrabble players, or even a book club (lol). Everyone is welcomed there, so if you’re ever in the area, stop by.
I don’t know if it’s still accurate but I’ve gotten quite a few few cards online for various Virginia libraries. I was told awhile back that a lot of Virginia libraries will give you a card as long as you live in the state. Some you do have to go in person but figured I would share the link for those that want to try in their spare time.
https://www.vla.org/virginia-public-libraries-by-vla-region
I was checking into the Chicago Illinois reciprocal library feature for an Illinois resident whose library does not have Libby. Unfortunately, their website states that reciprocal cardholders cannot use digital ebooks or audiobooks: “Reciprocal cardholders can check out books, DVDs and other materials, and use our online resources. Reciprocal cardholders cannot check out Digital Museum Passes or Internet to Go WiFi hotspots, or use OverDrive eBooks, audiobooks and magazines or hoopla videos, music and audiobooks.”