FAQ

A library card for the Lancaster Public Library will be issued without charge to any resident of Lancaster County who is five years old or more.

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

Applicants will need to produce proof of address from one of the following sources:

  • A valid driver’s license
  • A current identification card
  • A bill from a utility company of 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 school ID

Non-residents of Lancaster County should see the librarian to obtain a card.

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 the card, accepting responsibility for all borrowed materials and signed by the director of the organization. Overdue fines will be incurred for any materials not returned by the due date. Special loan periods can be arranged upon request.

Click HERE to begin the library card registration process. Take the completed form to your local library to obtain your library card!

Chasquido aquí para el uso de tarjeta de biblioteca. Imprímalo y complete la información. ¡Tome la formulario completada a su biblioteca local para obtener su tarjeta de biblioteca!

Click the links below for other languages:

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.

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

Lost or stolen library cards can be replaced for $1.00.

Renewal can be done at a Lancaster County public library circulation desk, by telephone, or online.

Renewal at a Lancaster County public library circulation desk requires the items or the library card on which the items were checked out.

Online renewal is available from through the Online Catalog. Click on My Account on any page of the catalog and input your name, barcode, and PIN. Please note that not all items can be renewed online. Some reasons an item may not be renewed are: another borrower has requested the item; that type of material is not eligible for renewal; you already renewed the item the maximum number of times; or, because of overdue fines on your record. If you are unable to renew your items, please call your local library.

Late fees for Adult and Young Adult materials are 30¢ per day with a maximum fee of $5.10 per item.

Late fees for Children’s materials are 20¢ per day with a maximum fee of $3.00 per item.

$1 per day for all Videos and DVDs with a maximum of $5 per item.

Lost item charges equal the price of the item. It is your responsibility to contact the library to arrange for the payment of late fees. Any questions about an account may be directed to your local library.

First Notice at 2 Weeks

The first overdue notice will be sent to the most recent address listed in the library records for the patron account when the item is 2 weeks overdue. The notice will include a list of overdue materials.

Failure to return the items listed in this notice within seven (7) working days of the date of this notice will result in a suspension of a cardholder’s borrowing privileges in each library in Lancaster County until the account is cleared.

Failure to return these items within 4 weeks after the original due date will result in a charge to the cardholder’s account for the replacement cost of the materials.

Second Notice: Bill for replacement at 4 weeks

The second notice is sent when the item is 4 weeks overdue. This is a bill for the replacement of the books. If the billed items are found, you need only pay the late fees.

Library patrons of the parents of the juvenile library patron are expected to return library materials promptly and to pay any late fees incurred.

If an item is more than 14 days overdue, borrowing privileges are suspended until the materials are returned and the late fees are paid.

Late fees must be paid and overdue materials returned before suspended borrowing privileges are restored.

Pennsylvania State Law States that:

“Records related the circulation of the library materials which contain the names or other personally identifying details regarding the users of the state Library or any local library which is established or maintained under any law of the Commonwealth or the library of a university, college or educational institution chartered by the Commonwealth or the library of any public school or branch reading room, deposit station or agency operated in connection therewith, shall be confidential and shall not be made available to anyone except by a court order in a criminal proceeding.” (PA State Law 24 P.S. Section 4428.)

The Library System of Lancaster County and member libraries will resist the issuance or enforcement of any such process, order, or subpoena until such time as a proper showing of good cause has been made in a court of competent jurisdiction. Upon receipt of such process, order, or subpoena, library officers will consult with their legal counsel to determine if such process, order, or subpoena is in proper form and if there is a showing of good cause for its issuance. If the process, order, or subpoena is not in the proper form or if good cause has not been shown, they will insist that such defects be cured.

This confidentiality policy applies equally to adults and minors. When an adult requests the records of a child, the library will respond only if the child consents to the request.

Telephone requests for information about materials checked out to patron accounts (adult or child) can be responded to if the caller has the barcode number on the library card.