Library Card Services 

Need a Library Card?

It's easy and free.

You may apply for a library card online. Simply complete and submit the form (Library eCard Registration) and a confirming email with your Library eCard account number will be delivered to the email address you supply (within 24-48 hours with exceptions for library closings).

Immediately upon receipt of the library eCard account number, you will have access to most electronic resources on our website from your home, including magazine and newspaper databases, encyclopedias, our Special Collections, and downloadable audio!

If you wish to check out or place holds on library materials, you will need to visit a library location where a physical card will be issued to you upon verification of current address.

Additional verification is required for property ownership, Duval County School Board employment, City of Jacksonville employment, or student status.

A juvenile card will be issued to an individual under 18 years old with a parent's or guardian's identification and signature.

You are eligible for a free Jacksonville Public Library card if you are

• A resident or property-owner in Duval County,
• A Duval County public school teacher,
• An employee of the City of Jacksonville, (Offices/Agencies of City Government)
• Currently attending a college located in Jacksonville, or
• Military personnel or family members of military personnel who reside in the state of Florida (must have valid military ID).

If you wish to borrow materials, but do not meet the above criteria, you may obtain a Six-month Nonresident Card for a fee of $25.00 or a One-year Nonresident Card for a fee of $40.00.

The charge for a replacement card is $2.00. The Library must be notified immediately if your card is lost or stolen.

Jacksonville Public Library cards are valid for three years from the issue date. To renew a library card, customers may visit any library location. Online renewal is not possible, as valid identification with current address must be brought to the library when renewing the card. There is no charge for renewal of a library card.

Card Application

The library card application can now be viewed online in two forms.

You may fill out the application online. Then, print out the completed form and bring it (along with a valid form of ID) to your nearest library location to obtain a library card. (en Español, aquí.)

A printer-friendly* version of the application is also available. Print the form, complete it in ink and bring it (along with a valid form of ID) to your nearest library location to obtain a library card. (en Español, aquí.*)

All library card applicants must provide ID which includes your current street address.  Examples of acceptable ID are driver's license, vehicle registration, or utilities bill.

Nonresidents of Duval County may be eligible for a free JPL library card if they can also provide one of the following:

• For property owners, a document showing proof of ownership of property in Duval County.
• For employees of the city of Jacksonville, their employee photo ID card.
• For teachers, their Duval County School Board Employee photo ID.
• For college students, proof of current registration from a Duval County institution.
• For military personnel or family members of military personnel who reside in the state of Florida, their valid military ID.

Borrowing Materials

The Library has a collection of over two million items for children, teens, and adults. Newspapers, business directories and reference materials are available for use in the library only. Selected magazines and encyclopedias may be borrowed.

Holds

For JPL customers, the option exists to request items to be placed on hold. A hold is a request for an item to be pulled as soon as it is available and set aside for the customer who is next in line for the item.

Holds are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis and do not have a set arrival date. Once the requested item arrives at the customer's designated pickup branch and is available for checkout, you will be contacted by staff via phone, postcard, or an email notice (if you have applied for that option). Holds are kept at the selected pickup library up to seven days from notification. Unfilled holds expire after one year.

To place a hold online, you need to have a valid library card and a Peronal Identification Number (PIN). To place multiple holds on a single title, you will need to contact a library location. Click here for assistance in placing holds online.

• Holds may not be placed on items such as Express7 or Express21 titles, reference items, eBooks, Special Collections material, or other specially designated items.
• To place multiple holds on a single title, you will need to contact a library location.
• There is a limit of 20 hold requests per customer at one time.

Renewals

Renewing checked out materials may be done in person, over the telephone, or online. Most materials may be renewed up to two times. Renewals, however, may not be made on Express books, InterLibrary Loan items, materials that have already been renewed twice, and titles that have been requested by other customers. Attempts at online renewal of materials checked out on your library card may also fail for the below possible reasons:

• Item is overdue ;
• Library card is blocked due to total fines/fees of $10 or over ; or,
• Library card privilege is expired (library cards expire after three years; to renew, must bring verification of current home address to any library location).

For additional information or questions about renewals, please contact the library location nearest you.

Returns

Help protect your community's valuable library resources and allow others to use them by returning them promptly! As a courtesy, three days before your items are due we will send a notice to your email address (if you have signed up for email notification) informing you of the due date. We will send you an overdue notice (via email or print depending upon your choice) reminding you what materials have not been returned on time.

Replacement charges will be assessed for unreturned, lost or damaged materials. A small processing fee is included in the replacement cost. A bill will be assessed for unreturned overdue items and legal proceedings may be instituted if materials are not returned.

You may pay any assessed bills at any library location via cash, check, or credit card (MC/VISA only).

Pick up at one branch, drop off at another...

Books or materials borrowed from one branch may be returned to any library location in Duval county. We send materials back to their home branches.

Books, compact discs, audio books, videos and DVDs can also be delivered to your closest branch at your request. You can call or ask a staff member to place a "hold" on materials and the item will be sent to the branch closest to you. You can also request a title via our website.

Self-Service in the Checkout Lines!

Jacksonville Public Library is proud to offer self-service checkout to our customers. These machines are available for use at many locations. They are quick and easy to use and library staff are available to help and offer any assistance needed.

V-series Self-Check Machine.

Please be aware that some locations in the systems have different models of machines. Some may have the desktop version of the self-check machine, while others may have the V-series model. The basic steps and requirements, however, remain the same:

• Have your library card with you. You will need the card if you wish to use this service.
• Scan your library card by placing it in the indicated location or passing it under the scanner.
• Place items so that the barcode can be read by the checkout scanner, one at a time.
• On some Desktop models, there may be a separate slot to insert a videocassette. Please note that those desktop models that do not have a separate slot for VHS tapes are not designed to check out this item type. Checking out videocassettes on these machines may accidentally corrupt or wipe the video tape.
• For the V-series self-check machines, a 'tunnel' will be located near the machine. These are for use with DVDs or VHS tapes.
• With all models of self-check, please follow the guidelines located at the self-check station.

If you run into difficulties, a staff member will be able to assist you, but please be aware that the following conditions will prevent utilization of this service:

• If you do not have your card with you,
• If you have fines/fees over $10, or
• If your library privilege has expired.

We don't have it? We'll look for it...

Our InterLibrary Loan Service (ILL) Department will help you find the materials the Library does not own. We will try our best to borrow the item from another library system. If you are in the libary, Interlibrary Loan request forms are available online on the library's public computers or you may ask a staff member for assistance. You may also call Interlibrary Loan at (904) 630-2986.

Click here for more information about our InterLibrary Loan Service.