Get a Library Card
Library District and Eligibility
The Freeport Public Library serves residents living in the City of Freeport. For those living outside of the City of Freeport without a home library, an annual household Non-Resident Card can be purchased for $92.
Eligibility For Adults
To be eligible for a resident library card, a person must be living within the limits of the City of Freeport. Identification and proof of residency (such as a recent bill with your address on it) are required at the time a library card is issued. Resident cards are valid for 3 years.
Acceptable Forms of ID
Applicants must show a government-issued picture ID, as listed below:
Driver’s License
State ID
United States Permanent Resident Card
United States or Foreign Passport
FOID Card
Acceptable Forms of Proof of Residence
If applicant’s current residential address is not listed on the photo ID, proof of residence is required:
Checkbook from a bank
Current Utility Bill (within 60 days)
Lease
Bill of Sale for Home
Automobile Registration
Mail with Recent postmark (within 60 days)
Eligibility For Children
Children under 18 years of age must have the signature of a parent or guardian on their application. Before a child receives a library card, a parent or legal guardian of the child must come to the library and fill out the proper application for a library card. If the parent or legal guardian has a library card, it must be in good standing. Proof of address is also required. A child may not receive a library card unless it is filled out by the parent or legal guardian and the child in the presence of a library staff member. No exceptions to this requirement will be made.
Non-Resident Fee
Freeport Public Library participates in the Illinois Non-Resident Library Card Program. Persons residing outside the City of Freeport and not entitled to the services of any tax-supported public library may purchase a library card. The non-resident card fee is determined using a mathematical formula as outlined by the Illinois State Library. This is an annual fee. The fee for a non-resident card is determined by dividing the total local property tax revenue (excluding state and federal funds) by the local population (using the most recent federal census information available). This number is multiplied by the average number of persons per local household (again, using the most recent federal census data). Reciprocal borrowing privileges are extended according to State and System requirements. Persons who own taxable property within the library district but who do not reside in the library district are entitled to a non-resident card upon presentation of a current property tax bill. Only one card may be issued for each parcel of taxable property.
Non-Resident card applicants can “Pay Forward” toward card fee, using computer pass purchases or simply by paying forward.
Using Your Card
Use of a library card is transferable among members of the same household for borrowing privileges except when the individual presenting another household member’s card has outstanding fines on their own card. All patrons, however, must use their own cards for Internet access.
Fines
Parents or guardians are financially responsible for all materials checked out on a childʼs card. A parent or guardian may be blocked from library use when a child for whom they are responsible has accrued $5.00 in excess fines and/or overdue materials.
Expiration
As a general rule, all resident library cards expire three years from the date of issue and all non-resident library cards expire one year from the date of issue.
Freeport Public Library also offers homebound and retirement home cards, non-resident summer cards, temporary residency cards, and cards for property owners within the District. Please contact us for more information.