Burlington Public Library: Your Library Card

Your Library Card

Borrowing Privileges

Any resident of Burlington, West Burlington or unincorporated Des Moines County may obtain a library card by providing identification, proof of residency and completing a registration form. Residents under the age of eighteen must also have a parent or guardian present to sign the registration form. Other Iowa residents from communities that participate in the Open Access Program must present a current library card from their hometown library and have valid identification. Illinois residents with valid identification may purchase a library card for $60.00 per year.

Getting a Card

Bring identification (driver's license, state id, student id, social security card, etc.)
Have something with your current address on it. If your id has your current address that is all that you need. If not, bring a copy of your lease, a piece of mail sent to your address, or anything that has your name and current address.
Come to the library at 210 Court Street.
Fill out an application form.
Get your card and sign it. You are ready to go.
You can also register for a library card online. Choose the My Account tab and click on New User to register. Once you have completed the online form you can come to the library to get your card. You will need to bring identification as outlined in Step 1 and also verification of address as outlined in Step 2. You will not be able to check-out or reserve materials until you have been issued a library card by the library.

If you are under 18, you need to bring your parent or guardian with you. We will ask for their id and proof of current address.

You will need your library card with you to use public access computers, check-out materials using the self check-out stations or at the Customer Service Desk, and to access online resources, including e-books and e-audiobooks..

Loan Periods and Returning Items

Magazines, New Fiction, Videos and DVDs check out for one week.
All other items check out for 3 weeks.
All materials may be returned in the after-hours book return which is accessed by entering on Main Street.
All items may be renewed if there is no one on a waiting list for the item.
There are late charges and fees for damaged or lost materials.
Renewals are taken online, in-person, or by phone.

Late Charges, Fees, and Overdue Materials

Please help us to serve the entire community by returning materials on time.

The library is committed to providing materials in different formats and on a wide variety of subjects to meet the needs of our community.
The library is committed to serving the taxpayers by insuring that materials are returned in a timely manner.
The library must make every effort to recover lost materials in order to protect taxpayers dollars.
Notices regarding overdue materials are automatically generated by the computer and mailed daily.
Books, movies, and other materials that are not returned are not available for other patrons to use. Replacing lost materials is costly.

To assist in acheiving these objectives, the library contracts with Unique Management Services, a collection agency, to handle all accounts with fines or lost book fees over $50. A service charge of $10 is added to any account balance when the collection agency is used.