Library Cards

Eligibility for a Library Card

Individual borrower's card (must visit the library in person)
A library card for the Library System of Lancaster County will be issued without charge to any resident of Lancaster County who is five years old or more.

Library patrons who live outside of Lancaster County are encouraged to go to the Pennsylvania library that serves their home area and apply for a card. The card should have a blue Pa Access sticker. With this Pa Access sticker, a Library System of Lancaster County library card is free. For library patrons who live outside of Lancaster County and do not have a Pennsylvania library card with the Pa Access sticker, a Library System of Lancaster County library card is $25.00 for three years.

Applicants or parents of applicants will need to produce proof of address using the list below.

A child under 14 years of age must have the library card application form signed by a parent or legal guardian who agrees to assume responsibility for the child’s fines and cost of any lost or damaged materials as well as monitoring the materials borrowed by the child.

Proof of residence will include:

a valid driver’s license
a current identification card
a bill from a utility company or retailer addressed to the person and dated in the last three months
a tax bill for a Lancaster County property
working papers issued to a teenager
a copy of a current lease or deed for a Lancaster County property
checks with a pre-printed Lancaster County address
valid Lancaster County college/university ID

Minor applicants may have their parent or legal guardian provide the proof of address.

DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE LIBRARY CARD APPLICATION

Temporary Digital Access Card

Visit https://catalog.lancasterlibraries.org/selfreg to receive a temporary library card number to access many of our libraries' online resources.

Your temporary library card is valid for 3 months. You must visit the Ephrata Public Library to upgrade your temporary library card to a full access library card. Otherwise your temporary library card will expire. You will need to complete a full paper application in the library and produce proof of address to upgrade your card.

Your temporary library card can be used to:

Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks
Place holds on physical library items
- To pick up your items, you must visit the Ephrata Public Library to upgrade your temporary card to a full access library card.
Use online resources

Your temporary library card cannot be used to:

Borrow physical library items
Use public access computers in the library

Institutional Card
An institutional library card is issued to a Lancaster County organization that assumes responsibility for all borrowed materials. The application must be accompanied by a letter on the letterhead of the organization applying for a card. This letter must state the organization’s acceptance of responsibility for all borrowed materials and must be signed by the director of the organization.

Fines will be incurred for any materials not returned by the due date.

Special loan periods can be arranged upon request.

Use of the Library Card

A library card for the Library System of Lancaster County may be used at any public library that is a member of the Library System of Lancaster County.

Borrowing privileges may be suspended for the failure to return overdue books, failure to pay overdue fines, or failure to pay for lost or damaged materials. See specifics lists below. The library will prosecute to the extent of the law permitted under the Retention of Library Property Act (Section 6708, Title 18 PA Code (PA CSA 6708) and the Library Theft Act of 1982.

Library patrons are responsible for notifying any member library about the change of address within 30 days.

A lost or stolen library card can be replaced for $1.00.

Addendum: When checking out materials patrons must have either their library card or picture identification, such as a driver’s license or school ID.

Patron Registration

The following shall be requested at the time of registration, but will be optional on the part of the patron:

E-mail address