How to Get a Library Card Online

Before you set out to traverse all the online libraries the world has to offer, don’t forget that your journey can start much closer to home. To sign up online for a library card at your local library, follow these quick steps:

1. Navigate to your local library’s website using a search engine of your choosing.
2. Locate the “Get a Library Card” or “Using The Library” option, and follow the site’s guidelines to register for a card.
3. Most libraries that permit online card sign-ups will prompt you to fill out some basic information like your name, email address, and address (to ensure that you’re a resident of their district!). 
4. When you’re finished registering, you’ll either be given a virtual card or account number, or a physical library card sent in the mail, and then you’re ready to start reading!

There are some libraries that offer free library cards (and online sign-ups) to anyone who lives, works, attends school, or owns property in their state, not just their town or region. For example, some counties have inter-library systems established that allow you access to any public library within the system with your local library card. Some of the libraries that are free to residents of their state are listed below:

• New York Public Library 
• Connecticut State Library
• Boston Public Library
• Library of Virginia
• Houston Public Library

… and many more. Here are some ways you can find out if you are eligible to sign up online for a free library card in your state:

1. If you know your state or city library, visit that library’s website and navigate to the “Get a Library Card” feature for more information.
2. If you aren’t sure if there are free city or state libraries in your area, reach out to your local library! Libraries are, after all, a great resource of information, and your local librarians (or library website) can tell you more about the perks your local library card provides.
3. Don’t have a local library card? No worries, it’s easier than ever to find details on your state’s free libraries online. Simply search “free library card online [your state]” and navigate to your state’s site.*
4. Follow the library website’s prompts to register for a resident library card, and you’re all set!

*A good tip: if a library site’s URL ends in “.gov” or “.org,” you’re probably in the right place!

If your local library doesn’t offer an online sign-up option, or you just can’t get enough of online library catalogs (we’ve been there), there are a number of libraries in the United States that offer library cards to non-residents for a monthly or annual fee that provides access to most of the library’s online resources, as well as some in-person features depending on the library policy. 

Below are a few of the libraries that you can sign up for online today!

• Orange County Library System - $125/year.
• Queens Public Library - $50/year.
• Monroe County Library System - $25/year.
• Charlotte Mecklenburg Library - $45/year per household.
• Chapel Hill Public Library - $65/year.
• Houston Public Library - free for any Texas resident, or $40/year for non-residents.
• Fairfax County Library - $27/year.
• The New York Society Library - $100/year.
• The Mercantile Library - $65/year.
• Redwood Library & Anthenaeum - $75-$100/year.
• Westchester Library System - $75/year.

To sign up for a library card online on one of these sites:

1. Follow the links provided above to each library's homepage.
2. Navigate to the “Using the Library,” "Join", or “Get a Library Card” tabs.
3. Respond to the library website's prompts, and be sure to read the registration information carefully. If you are a resident of the county or town that these libraries are located in, you can likely procure your library card for free.
4. Read, read, read!

We would be remiss not to mention that, today, there are a number of free online libraries accessible to anyone, anywhere. While their catalogs may often be limited,  and each has their own policies about borrowing, these sites are a great option for readers like us, who love having access to our favorite titles at the tips of our fingers, but whose wallets don’t always feel the same way. 

When searching for a free online library, it’s important to keep in mind that not all of the sites are legitimate, book piracy is a huge issue, and downloads from illegitimate sites can often cause all kinds of bugs on your device! But, don’t worry. We’ve found two online free libraries whose only goal is to make books accessible to everyone (including Banned Books!).

• Open Library
• Digital Public Library of America