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Who can get a card?

A Dallas Public Library card is available at no cost to anyone who lives, teaches at, or attends school in an educational institution within the City of Dallas city limits. Educational institutions include public schools, charter schools, private schools, community colleges, colleges and universities, etc. A library card is also available to City of Dallas employees.

How Can I Get a Card?

To receive your library card, visit any of Dallas Public Library’s locations with a government-issued photo identification, that has your current address. If your ID does not show your current address, please bring two forms of identification: one to prove your identity with a photo and one to show your place of residence.

Click here to register for a library card. Online registration provides immediate limited account access but the registration process must be completed, later on, by email or in person at one of our locations in order to use services.

Accepted forms of identification

If your ID does not show your current address, please bring two forms of identification, one to prove identity and one to show place of residence.

Examples include:

• driver's license

• voter’s registration card (current)

• lease agreement (current)

• vehicle insurance (current)

• passport

• checkbook

• online bill

• current mail with physical address (within last 30 days). Mail must be typewritten or computer-generated

• letter on letterhead from a shelter

You may also visit or call your local branch with supporting documentation.

If you are unable to renew your card in person, we accept a scanned image of the two forms of identification required for renewal. Please submit the scan directly to librarycustomerservice@dallaslibrary.org.

Click here for a complete list of accepted forms of ID and address verification.

Library Card Identity & Address Verification Requirements

Enhanced Library Card

The Enhanced Library Card is a Dallas Public Library card that has a person’s name, picture, and other personal information printed on it.

What can I use the Enhanced Library Card for?

The Enhanced Library Card is a Dallas Public Library Card and so can be used to access all the resources that are available to Library card holders –

this includes books, DVDs, and other physical materials in our collection, as well as our various electronic resources, such as eContent and databases.

The Enhanced Library Card is a document with your name and picture that may possibly be used as a supplement with other documents to prove your identity. You will need to check with organizations/entities with which you would like to use the Enhanced Library Card as part of establishing your identity to determine if/how the Enhanced Library Card can be used for this purpose.

The following organizations have said they will accept the Enhanced Library Card as identification:

• Dallas Fire Rescue

• Dallas Police

• Dallas Community Courts

• Dallas Water Utilities

• Office of Vital Statistics

• Office of Arts and Culture

• WIC Offices

• Dallas Sanitation

• Park and Recreation

• Parkland Health’s Homeless Outreach Medical Services (HOMES)

Is there a cost for the Enhanced Library Card?

No, there is not. Enhanced Library Cards are available to city of Dallas adult residents (18+ years old) at no charge.

Can I trade in my regular Dallas Public Library card for an Enhanced Library Card?

Yes, you can. However, the Enhanced Library Card contains your name, picture, and other personal information. Should it get lost or stolen, it and the information on it could be used to perform identity theft.

Which libraries can I use my Enhanced Library Card at?

The Enhanced Library Card is a Dallas Public Library card and can be used at all Dallas Public Library locations, as well as online to access our eContent and databases.

Cards for children

Children can receive a library card when visiting their local branch with a parent or guardian. The parent/guardian must present two forms of identification (outlined above) or the child's report card and/or ID (valid for schools within the City of Dallas only). The child does not need to be present if the guardian has the child's school registration, birth certificate, or other means of identification.

Cards for teens

Teenagers 14 and up may apply for their own library card with a current school ID (valid for schools within the City of Dallas only) or government ID.

Company Cards

Any company located in the City of Dallas may obtain a library card by submitting the application form [link to PDF - companyCard_web], and printing on company letterhead which includes the company’s street address and phone number. State the number of cards desired and name of staff (not to exceed 2) who will be using the cards. The letter must be signed by a chief executive officer agreeing to be responsible for any delinquencies that may occur. 

These cards are for business-related materials, not for personal use. The company is responsible for keeping track of the personnel using these cards. If the company has 2 cards issued and one is lost, all cards will need to be replaced if the specific card number is not known. If this occurs, the company will be responsible for reporting the card lost/stolen: report the card at 214-670-1740. 

Forward all inquiries to Dallas Public Library, Circulation Services, 1515 Young St., Dallas, TX 75201. 

Company cards are available to businesses located within the City of Dallas.

Cards for non-residents of City of Dallas

Teachers and Students in the City of Dallas

Any non-Dallas resident who teaches at or attends an educational institution within City of Dallas city limits is eligible for a free non-resident library card. Educational institutions include public schools, charter schools, private schools, community colleges, colleges and universities, etc. Contact your preferred library location for more information.

Town of Addison

Town of Addison residents are eligible to receive a free Dallas Public Library card, with a voucher from the Addison Athletic Club (3900 Beltway Road). The voucher can only be redeemed at the Fretz Park Branch location. These cards allow Addison residents full access to physical and digital materials.

Texas Residents

Texas residents may be eligible for a TexShare card from their local lending library. TexShare cards grant residents from other cities access to up to five Dallas Public Library physical items at one time but does not include access to digital content. Visit the TexShare site for more details.

Fee Cards

Library cards are available to non-residents for $250 per year for unlimited borrowing. Three limited-borrowing punch cards are also available at $25 for 5 items or $60 for 15 items or $100 for 25 items. These cards only allow for the check-out of physical items they do not provide access to ebooks and databases.

Updates, Renewals and Expirations

Updates

To update your telephone number or email address, you may log into your library account, using your card number and password/PIN. If you need further assistance accessing your account or updating your information, please email us at librarycustomerservice@dallaslibrary.org, or contact customer service at 214-670-1740.

To submit minor spelling changes on your account or to update your address information, email us at librarycustomerservice@dallaslibrary.org with the desired changes and your library card number.

Renewals

Library cards can be renewed in person at any library with a government-issued identification, which has your current address. If your ID does not show your current address, please submit two forms of identification, one to prove identity and one to show place of residence.

Expirations

Online registrations expire after thirty (30) days; otherwise Dallas resident cards expire after three (3) years. If you have signed up for email notifications on your account, you will receive a reminder one (1) month prior to expiration. If your card has expired, please visit any library location to renew, along with a government-issued identification, which has your current address.

Library Card Fines and Fees

Dallas Public Library discontinued charging late fines for overdue materials. Fees for replacing lost library cards and looking up account numbers were also eliminated.

Under the fine-free rules, when an item is a week overdue, the account will be blocked from further checkouts until the overdue items are returned. The replacement cost of the book plus a processing fee will be charged to the account. These charges will be waived as soon as the book is returned or replaced.

• Lost or damaged items: $20 processing fee plus the cost of the material

• Materials can be replaced by the same or a comparable item in new condition. This usually costs less than paying the processing fee plus material cost.

Dallas Public Library does not accept cash as of February 1, 2023. All payments must be made online with a credit card or with a check/money order.

No More Late Fees

On May 22, 2019, Dallas Public Library discontinued charging late fines for overdue materials. Fees for replacing lost library cards and looking up account numbers were also eliminated.

Director of Libraries Jo Giudice sought the change to bring back customers who have not been able to access library services because of excessive fines. “The library’s mission is to provide access for all. Late fines create barriers by punishing people who are unable to pay them. Eliminating fines is an issue of equity.”

Late fines will no longer be assessed beginning immediately. The library is working with its vendor to zero-out existing balances, a process likely to take several weeks. In the meantime, card holders visiting the library can request to have their accounts cleared of fines for returned materials.

Under the fine-free rules, when an item is a week overdue, the account will be blocked from further checkouts until the overdue items are returned. The replacement cost of the book plus a processing fee will be charged to the account. These charges will be waived as soon as the book is returned.

For customers who have lost items on their accounts and cannot pay the replacement cost, special events twice a year will give them an opportunity to “work off” the fees by volunteering or participating in other community activities.

FAQs

So if I don’t return an item, I won’t get charged?

Not exactly. When an item is 7 days overdue, your account will be charged the replacement cost of the item

plus a processing fee. You will be responsible for those charges until you bring back the overdue item.

Will you let me know that my item is overdue?

You will receive a notice when your items are two days past due, 4 days past due, and 6 days past due. After 7

days past due, your account will be billed for the replacement cost and you will receive a notice about the charges to your account. You can always log into your account at https://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/polaris/logon.aspx to check the status of your items.

How do I know if I have any charges on my account?

The quickest way would be to log into your account at https://catalog.dallaslibrary.org/polaris/logon.aspx.

You can also visit one of our 29 library locations or email librarycustomerservice@dallaslibrary.org.

I lost the items that are charged to my account, but I can’t afford to pay the replacement costs. Will you waive those charges?

You can bring in a replacement copy that is in new condition. Otherwise, you will have to wait for future

special events when customers will have an opportunity to work off their fines through various initiatives.

I didn’t really lose the items on my account. Can I still bring them back?

Yes! If they are still in good condition, bring them back and the charges on your account will be waived.

I lost my card a long time ago. How do I know if I have an account?

Visit your nearest library location, and the staff will see if you are in the system. Bring a photo id and something that verifies your Dallas residency, like a lease agreement, a bill mailed to your address, etc.

Is the library going to lose money by not collecting fines?

Any fines and fees collected by the library goes to the city’s general fund, not the library directly. Since autorenewal was established several years ago, plus the increase in ebook checkouts (which don’t accrue fines) the amount of overdue fines charged to accounts has gone down significantly. Also, history has shown that most fines are never paid and instead people stop using the library altogether. We would rather have you use the library than punish you with fines you can’t pay.

Overdue fines teach personal responsibility. Why isn’t that important anymore?

You are still responsible to bring items back. Accounts will be charged the replacement cost of an item plus a processing fee when an item is 7 days overdue. The account will be blocked from use until the item is returned.