Get a Library Card!

ABOUT YOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY

The New York Public Library (NYPL) has 90 locations throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. The NYPL

provides residents with free and open access to its physical and electronic collections and information, as well as to

its services for people of all ages. To learn more, go to: http://www.nypl.org.

The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) serves the borough’s 2.5 million residents through its 60 libraries. BPL has millions

of books and resources, more than 1000 Internet-accessible computers, along with many public programs. Visit

http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org to learn more.

The Queens Library serves the borough’s 2.3 million residents through its 62 locations. In 2010 alone, more than 23

million books and resources were circulated to residents. Visit http://www.queenslibrary.org to learn more.

ABOUT YOUR LIBRARY CARD

Your library card is your key to the resources and services of the many library locations throughout the City. In

addition to borrowing library materials, your card will enable you to reserve a computer, download digital media,

search hundreds of electronic databases, and more.

HOW CAN YOU APPLY FOR A LIBRARY CARD?

For residents of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island: apply online at http://catalog.nypl.org/screens/selfregpick.

html or in person at any NYPL location or library-sponsored event in Manhattan, the Bronx, or Staten Island.

For residents of Brooklyn: apply online at https://bpl.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/patron/registration.aspx or in person

at any of the 60 library locations throughout Brooklyn.

For residents of Queens: apply online at www.queenslibrary.org/services/library-card/apply-online or in person at

any of the 62 library locations throughout Queens.

When applying for a library card in person, or providing proof of your identity to validate a card received in the mail

because you applied for a library card online, you must show verication that you live, work, attend school, or pay

property taxes in New York State. Identication cannot be submitted by mail or fax.

Applications for children ages 11 and under must be completed in person at the library or any library-sponsored

event, and require the signature of a parent or guardian. Applications are available at all library locations. Note:

Applications submitted online might take up to a week for processing and delivery via U.S. mail.

WHAT IS PROOF OF IDENTITY?

Adults (and young adults between the ages of 12-18) may provide a single piece of identication if it is one of the

following valid New York State IDs:

• Current driver’s license;

• Current photo learner’s permit;

• Current non-driver’s identication.

If you don’t have any ID, visit the ocial NYC Get Your ID website at www.nyc.gov/html/id.

Alternatively, young adults may present one of the following, provided the name and address are included in the

documentation:

• Current school photo ID;

• Current report or program card

• Working papers

If the above documentation is not available, any two of the following forms of identication are acceptable for

adults and/or young adults, provided the individual shows a photo and name and/or signature and the other the

applicant's current address:

• Current college or university photo ID card;

• Current employee photo ID card;

• New York City welfare ID card;

• Current Armed Services ID card;

• Alien Registration photo ID card;

• Matricula Consular (Mexican CID);

• Current passport;

• Social Security card;

• Birth certicate;

• Medicare/Medicaid card;

• New York State motor vehicle registration;

• Professional, vocational or union photo ID;

• Current rent bill or lease agreement;

• Tax bill or receipt*;

• Transit pass;

• Current photo ID with signature and expiration date issued by an embassy or consulate in New York;

• Statement from a homeless shelter*;

• Bank statement**;

• Cable, phone or utility bill**;

• Any piece of mail delivered by the US Post Oce**;

• Children ages 11 and under must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian.

*Note: Any tax bills, rent receipts or statements from a homeless shelter used for verication of your identity must be

dated no more than three months prior to the application date.

**Note: Any of the above must be dated within the last three months, as indicated by the postmark or date of

printed e-bill.

The name and address provided to verify your identication must match the information entered on the application.

The same identication must also be presented when a change to the borrower’s address is made and when

replacing a lost card. Cardholders are required to report change of name or address information promptly.

Special Notes on Young Adult Borrowers

Young adults between the ages of 12 and 18 or who are in the seventh to twelfth grades must present identication

that indicates their grade level or age to obtain an application for a library card.

A parent/guardian may verify his/her child's age in the absence of identication.

Young adult borrowers have access to the same library materials as adult borrowers.

Parents/guardians of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 may be given information about overdue materials

only, upon presentation of the youth’s library card barcode number, printed overdue notice, or personal

identication that conrms that the adult is the youth’s parent/guardians.

Special Notes on Juvenile Borrowers

Children may be present to receive their library cards, but their presence is not required.A parent or guardian must

sign a children’s application form. On the library card application, parents/or guardians determine whether their

child may borrow all library materials or only juvenile materials. Children under the age of 12 will not be able to

borrowed by their children.

If you don’t have any ID,

visit the ocial

NYC Get Your ID website

at: www.nyc.gov/html/id.