Alachua County Library District cards are free to any resident of Florida. To register, Florida residents 18 years of age and older must present photo identification and proof of residency in person at any Library District location. Minors (ages 4-17) must be accompanied by a legal guardian as the Responsible Party.
Acceptable forms of identification
Any current photo ID with Florida address is acceptable. If the photo ID does not have the current Florida address, residency can be verified with:
- Voter's Registration Card
- Rent or utility receipt
- Personal checkbook with imprinted name and address
- Property tax notice
- Name and address on mail with canceled postage, including forwarded mail
- Telephone listing in current telephone directory
For registration of a minor, the parent or legal guardian must have own photo ID plus a form of ID for the child. Acceptable identification for a minor:
- Health insurance card
- School report card
- School immunization record
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- State issued ID
- Passport
Non-residents of Florida
Out-of-state residents may get a library card for a fee by registering in person at any Library District location. A non-refundable fee of $40 a year or $20 for six months must be paid at time of registration. Cash or check only.
Library card renewal
Library card renewals must be done in person at a library location, with valid photo ID. Cards expire 3 years after registration or renewal.
Change of address
To change the street address address of your account, present a valid photo ID and proof of residency (if not on the ID) at any library location. Patrons may change their own telephone number or email address in the My Account pages of the online catalog.
Checkouts and returns
- Adults must show staff their library card or valid photo ID to check out items.
- Books, books on tape and books on CD check out for 4 weeks. Items may be renewed up to 2 times if not on hold for another library user.
- DVDs check out for 7 days, and you may check out 8 DVDs at one time.
- Overall checkout limit of 100 items.
- Overall limit of 100 holds, 25 of which can be holds on DVDs.
- eBooks and other digital media have circulation rules and hold limits that depend on provider, format and licensing. Read about Digital media.
Recovery of long-overdue materials
Please return materials on time. Five or more overdue items, or $50 worth of overdue materials, will block your borrowing privileges until the items are returned. You will be billed for materials not returned within 28 days of their due date. When more than $50 worth of items are more than 60 days overdue, your account may be referred to an outside agency for recovery and a nonrefundable $10 referral fee will be charged to your account. For more information call Circulation Services at (352) 334-3950.
Privileges at public libraries in surrounding counties
Residents of Alachua County are eligible for free library cards from 12 surrounding counties. These are Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns, and Union counties.
