Cards & Account

Library Cards

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Free Library Card Eligibility

1See "For Children" section for information on how parents/legal guardians may get cards for those under 18.

Non-Resident Card

Carrollton Public Library has a $40 nonrefundable annual fee for applicants who do not live in Carrollton but wish to obtain a library card.

Non-Resident library cards will be valid for one year and have many of the same privileges as resident library cards. See “Card Types” section for additional information.

Replacement cards are $1.00 and are only valid until the original expiration date.

Exceptions to the non-resident fee are:

  • Residents of the City of Farmers Branch
  • Staff at public schools within Carrollton City Limits (see School Staff Card page for eligibility)

Card Types

Free Library Card Guide
  City of Carrollton Residents School Staff Card Farmers Branch Residents
Use Resources in Library & Attend Programs yes yes yes
Borrow Physical Items yes yes yes
Reserve Study Room yes yes yes
Book a Librarian yes yes yes
Access Online Resources Remotely yes yes yes
Borrow eBooks & eAudiobooks yes yes no
Check Out Mobile Hotspot yes no no
Request Interlibrary Loan yes no no
Reserve Meeting Room yes no no
Request TexShare Card yes no no

Library Card Guide for Non-Residents Living in Other Texas Cities
  Paid Non-Resident* TexShare Cardholder Non-Resident, Non-CPL Cardholder
Use Resources in Library & Attend Programs yes yes yes
Borrow Physical Items yes 5 items no
Borrow eBooks & eAudiobooks yes no no
Reserve Study Room yes no no
Book a Librarian yes no no
Access Online Resources Remotely yes no no
Check Out Mobile Hotspot no no no
Request Interlibrary Loan no no no
Reserve Meeting Room no no no
Request TexShare Card no no no

*Find out more about Texas residents' other card options such as paid Non-Resident Cards , School Staff Cards, or TexShare Cards by using the links below:

How to Get a Card

  1. Apply online
    apply online for a library card
  2. Bring your government-issued photo ID with alternate proof of address if necessary to the service desk at either Library location within 2 weeks of applying

Accepted Proof of Address

  • Valid (non-expired) Texas Driver License or ID with CURRENT address
  • Valid (non-expired) Driver License or photo ID issued by a governmental agency with non-current address plus one of the following in paper or digital form* with your name and current address:
    • Lease
    • Recent utility bill (water, electric, gas, cable, etc.)
    • Car or motorcycle insurance card
    • Home or renter's insurance policy
    • Recent bank statement
    • Recent paycheck stub
    • Voter registration card

*All secondary proof of address must be non-expired or dated within the current or last month.

Card No Longer in the System

You may still have your physical Carrollton Public Card, but your card number is not found in the system.

  • Staff will search to see if you were issued a replacement card
  • If still not found, then your account was deleted from the system due to inactivity for several years.

Your account being deleted means that your account was in good standing. You owed:

  • No replacement fees for items not returned
  • No borrowed materials still needing to be returned

If you are a resident of Carrollton:
Simply bring your old Library card to the Front Desk when you apply for a new card along with your photo ID and proof of address from this list if not current on ID, and staff will reinstate your account as a full service card.

For Children

Parents can apply for a library card for a child under 18. Parents are responsible for all materials checked out and money owed on the child's card.

  • Child must be present during the application process.
  • Parent must be present with proof of residency at the current home address.
  • Parent must be present to renew card when it expires.

For Grandchildren

Only parents or legal guardians can sign up a minor child for a Library card.

Are you this child’s legal guardian? If not, grandparents or other caregivers are encouraged to sign up for a card for themselves and then check out items for use by the children in their care.

Renewing Expired Cards

Automatic Card Renewal

Library cards for adults living in Carrollton will be automatically renewed if residence at the address listed in the account can be verified by Patron Point Verify™, an online identity checking toolset. The Library account must have an email address to qualify for automatic card renewal.

You will keep using the SAME card unless you have lost it - see Lost Library Cards section below.

Any Carrollton resident whose address could not be verified, and all other cardholders must follow the in-person card renewal procedure described below.

In-Person Card Renewal

For those not eligible for automatic card renewal or whose address cannot be verified, Library cards must be renewed IN PERSON by the cardholder or the cardholder's parent/guardian at either Library location.

Renewals can be done inside or at the drive-up window.

You will keep using the SAME card unless you have lost it - see Lost Library Cards section below.

Needed to renew:

  • Valid (non-expired) government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of CURRENT address

If no valid (non-expired) government-issued ID or proof of address is available, then the account CANNOT be renewed.

Lost Library Cards

Report lost Library cards IMMEDIATELY to prevent others from using YOUR card to check out without your permission.

If you do not find the card, then you will need to get a replacement card.

A replacement card costs $1 and protects you from someone else finding your card, checking items out, not returning the items, and leaving you with the bill!

Unless you created a user name, then you must have your card number to:

Library staff can verify if you have a Library card in the system based on identifying information provided over the phone or from your photo ID but cannot give you the card number.