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 You can now sign up for BPL's new library card online. Please review our borrowing policies below and then apply online!
As of September 3rd, 2008, our borrowing policies have changed. For a list of specific changes, click here.
1. Apply online
2. Apply in person at any of BPL's 60 libraries.
Effective June 2, 2008, adults need to show only one piece of identification if it's one of the following New York State IDs:
- Current driver's license
- Current photo learner's permit
- Current non-driver's identification
Young adults (ages 13 - 16) can show the same ID as adults, however only one piece of identification is required for young adults if it's one of the following:
- Current school photo ID
- Current report card
- Working papers
Note: All of the above must have name and address.
If you don't have one of the above, any two of the following IDs are acceptable for adults, as long as one shows a photo and the other a current address:
- Current employee photo ID card
- New York City welfare ID card
- Current passport
- Photo Alien Registration card
- Current photo school ID
- Armed Forces ID card
- Medicare/Medicaid card
- Transit pass
- Social Security card
- Birth certificate
- Medicare/Medicaid card
- Any piece of mail delivered within the past three months (as indicated by postmark)
- Bank statement
- New York State motor vehicle registration
- Professional, vocational or union photo ID
- Rent bill
- Current rental or lease agreement
- Tax bill or receipt
- Utility bill (electric, gas, etc.)
- Telephone bill, cell phone bill, cable bill
- Current photo ID with signature and expiration date issued by an embassy or consulate in New York
Also note:
- The name and address on any bill or piece of mail must match the address on your library card application.
- Bills or bank statements cannot be older than three months.
You will get your card immediately and you can borrow books from any public library in Brooklyn or from The New York Public Library (NYPL) and from The Queens Borough Public Library (QBPL) — though NYPL and QBPL will ask you for additional identification.
- Adult cards are available for everyone 17 years and older.
- Young adults, 13 to 16 years, get a Young Adult library card. Young adults who are not applying through a class visit must provide ID. They can show the same ID as adults, however only one piece of ID is required for young adults if it's one of the following:
- Current school photo ID
- Current report card
- Working papers
Note: All of the above must have name and address
- Children ages 12 and under can get a Children's card. A parent or guardian must sign the child's application and provide a piece of mail with the child's current address. Foster parents and non-custodial parents are considered parents/guardians.
A library card is free for anyone who lives, works, pays property taxes or goes to school in New York State.
People who live outside of New York State and do not fit into one of the above categories must pay a fee of $50.00 per year for a card. The card must be renewed every year.
Most books may be borrowed for three weeks. Effective April 1, 2008: videos, DVDs, CDs & magazines may be borrowed for one week. Express Reads books may be borrowed for one week.
Adults and young adults who forget their library cards
can check out books and other items by showing an ID with their name and signature.
There is a $1 fee for checking out items without a library card.
Videos and DVDs circulate for one week. Videos and
DVDs can be returned to any BPL location and can be returned in a Book Drop.
Videos and DVDs may be reserved. Overdue fine is $2 a day, to a maximum
of $12 per title. Five video titles and five DVDs may be borrowed at one time.
You can borrow up to five audio books at one time. You
can check out audio books for three weeks. You can return audio books at any
BPL location and can return them in a Book Drop. If you lose, damage, or return
an incomplete audio book, you will be charged for its replacement. Please rewind
all audio books before you return them.
There are three ways to renew books and other items:
- Renew in person at any neighborhood library.
- Renew online by going to My
Account in the catalog. You will need to enter your name, barcode, and
PIN. If you don't have a PIN, leave the field blank and you will be prompted
to create one.
- Renew by phone by calling 718-230-6700. Have the barcode numbers on your
library card and the items you want to renew ready.
You may renew materials as long as you do not owe us more than $15.00 in fines, and no item you're trying to renew is reserved by another user. There is a maximum of 50 renewals for all library items.
Library users with valid BPL library cards may place a hold request through the online catalog. Holds can be placed on any circulating item that is owned by BPL with the following exceptions: items that are reference only (LIB USE ONLY status); items that belong to special collections such as Service to the Aging, the Brooklyn Collection, Literacy Centers, the Kidsmobile and the Bookmobile; items that belong to BPL locations that are closed for renovation; and issues of magazines and journals. In addition, those with a Juvenile Restricted card cannot place holds on any items other than Juvenile (children's collection) materials.
There are two ways to place holds.
- One way is to go to the library catalog's Search page. From the search results, select the title by clicking directly on the name. Once you see the full record, click on Request. The next screen will show you the title you're requesting and prompt you for your name, library card barcode, PIN, a location to pick up the item and a "cancel if not filled by" (expiration) date. Enter this information, click "Submit" and wait for the confirmation screen.
- The second way is by logging into "My Library Account." This method allows you to place multiple holds. Click on "Search the Catalog." Follow the search instructions above. When you click on Request, you will need to fill in only the location to pick up the item and a "cancel if not filled by" (expiration) date. After you click on "Submit" and see the confirmation screen, click on "Patron Record" to return to your account. Then click on "Search the Catalog" to perform another search without logging out of your account.
Have other questions about holds? Click here for more answers.
All books, videos, DVDs, CDs, and audio books may be returned
to any BPL library and can be deposited in a Book Drop wherever available. If
you borrow items in another borough, return the items in that borough.
The library sends overdue notices by e-mail, telephone,
and regular mail. Unfortunately, we cannot give you information about your library
records or adjust them over the telephone. Take care of all overdue issues in
person at your local library. If your fines and fees total $15 or more, your
borrowing privileges will be suspended.
- Books: Varies by borrower
- Children (Ages 12 and under): 10 cents a day
- Young Adults (Ages 13 -16): 25 cents a day
- Adult (Ages 17 and over): 25 cents a day
- Seniors (Ages 62 and over): 10 cents a day
- Compact Discs and CD-ROM software: $1 a day
- ILL (Interlibrary Loan) material: $1 a day
- Videos and DVDs: $2 a day
Fines accrue per item, per calendar day, even if the library is closed.
- Replacement of Lost/Stolen Adult Card: $2
- Replacement of Lost/Stolen Young Adult Card: $2
- Replacement of Lost/Stolen Juvenile Card: $1
- Replacement of Lost/Stolen Senior Citizen Card: $1
- Issuance, Updating or replacement of Non-Resident Card: $5
- Notification Postcard: 50 cents
- Bounced check fee: $10, and suspension of borrowing privileges until repayment.
Effective June 2, 2008:
- Adult library cards expire three years from the date of application and must be renewed every three years thereafter.
- Young adult library cards expire on the user's 17th birthday.
- Juvenile cards expire on the child's 13th birthday
If you lose your library card, report it immediately to
the nearest BPL library. You are responsible for items borrowed on your card.
Parents and guardians are responsible for items checked out on their child's
card. To replace your lost library card, adult and young adult cardholders will
be charged $2, senior citizens and Juvenile card holders will be charged $1.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service that allows valid Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) cardholders to request books from other libraries in the United States. Any BPL cardholder can use the service by submitting an ILL request form to a reference librarian at any branch library in BPL. This service is free to BPL patrons, however fines and fees assessed by the lending library do apply.
Any BPL patron with a valid ABC card can have up to 10 active requests at one time. Patrons who owe more than $15 in library fines or currently possess overdue interlibrary loan materials may not use the ILL service.
You can request any book not owned by BPL. Please keep in mind that most libraries do not loan: books less than 12 months old, magazines, reference books, textbooks, older and rare books, DVDs, microfilm, videos, software or compact discs. These materials cannot be requested through ILL.
- Verify that the item you would like is not owned or on order by BPL. This can be done by searching BPL's online catalog. Librarians at the reference desk can assist you in determining if BPL owns the book.
- Obtain an ILL form from the reference desk at any branch.
- Fill out the form with as much information about the book as possible. It is extremely important that you print clearly. Your contact information must be complete and match the information on your library record.
- Return the completed form to a librarian at any branch. The branch where you submit the request will be the branch you must pick the book up from.
- You will receive notice when the book arrives; we will notify you of any problems in acquiring it. Your signature will be required on receipt of the book.
- Most books arrive within three weeks, however, response times vary. It is important that you pick up the book as soon as possible as the loan period begins when the lending library sends the book to us.
The lending library sets the loan period for the book, however, three weeks is the standard time. The due date of the item is on both the receipt you will sign and on a band attached to the front of the book. Please note that the loan period begins the day the lending library sends the material and not the day it is picked up.
The fine for overdue books is $1 a day. This fine is assessed by the lending library and is charged to BPL. You are responsible for all overdue fines or lost book charges.
Books must be returned to the library from which they were picked up and may not be placed in a book drop.
The lending library decides on a case by case basis whether or not to renew. If you should need to make a renewal, you must contact the ILL office three days before the due date, and we will make a request for renewal. You will then be contacted regarding the lending library's decision. Lending libraries will not grant renewals for overdue books. Any items not granted renewal must be returned by the due date or is subject to fines.
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Plan ahead – The time it takes to fill your request can vary depending on the location of the lending library and the availability of the book.
- Be aware of lending rules – The loan period for each book varies, depending on the lending library; it may be less than BPL's standard three-week loan. All due dates are printed on the label that is attached to the book.
- Damaged or lost books – You are responsible for any overdue, damage, or lost book charges assessed by the lending library. Be aware that the lending library, not BPL, sets these costs and that they may be higher than BPL's charges.
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