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Get A Library Card

It’s Easy to Get a Library Card

Library card of the El Paso Public Library

El Paso Public Library Library Card for Children
(Dinosaur card temporarily unavailable at this time.)

El Paso Public Library cards are free to residents of the State of Texas, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The cards are good for two years and may be renewed after that for another two years.

You must:

Show an identification card with your picture, your name, and your current address. (General Delivery will not be accepted as an address.)

Complete a library card application form.

If your identification card does not include your current address, we will also need:

Your identification card with your picture and your name.

An envelope that you received in the mail including your current address.

Or, if you don’t have picture identification, then you must:

Show two types of identification with name and current address.

Complete a library card application form.

Adults must be present in the library before library cards will be issued.
Adults who cannot come to the library should contact the Dial-A-Book Coordinator at 543-5433 for assistance.

If you are under 13 years of age, your parent or legal guardian must present his/her ID and sign your library card application.

Children are encouraged to be present in the library when library cards are issued.

Military personnel and their dependents may show their military ID when applying for a library card.

You must be registered as a library cardholder in order to borrow materials, and you must present a library card or photo ID when checking them out.

Temporary library cards will be issued to anyone living in El Paso for a short period of time.
You or the adult who is responsible for you during this time must present:

An identification card including picture and permanent address

Proof of your local address (General Delivery will not be accepted as an address.)

Temporary library cards will expire in 3 months.

Please report lost library cards promptly. You will be charged $1.15 to replace a lost Juvenile library card or $2.25 to replace an Adult library card. Library cards damaged during normal use will be replaced without charge.

Library cards must be renewed every 2 years. You must present the same kind of identification that you presented when you first requested a library card. (See above.)

You Can Do a Lot With Your Card

You can check out	How Many*	How Long

Bestsellers	No limit	1 week
Books - Fiction	No limit	3 weeks
Books - Non-Fiction	No limit	3 weeks
Children’s easy books	No limit	3 weeks
Paperbacks	No limit	3 weeks
Magazines (Branches only)	No limit	1 week
Fotonovelas and revistas (in any combination)	15	1 week
Audio cassettes	No limit	3 weeks
Compact discs	3 discs	3 weeks
Kits	No limit	3 weeks
Pamphlets	No limit	3 weeks
Video Cassettes	No limit	1 week
DVDs	3	1 week
Government Documents	No limit	3 weeks
Reference books	May not be checked out
Genealogy Reference Books	May not be checked out
All other materials	As marked

You may check out as many items as you need, within the limits specified above. Most items are loaned for 3 weeks, but high-demand items may be limited as needed at various library locations. Reference materials may not be checked out.

All materials borrowed from the Bookmobile have a loan period of 2 weeks.

*When Circulation computers are down, only 5 items may be checked out to a card.
You must present your library card in order to check materials out.

Returning Library Materials

You must return all library materials on or before their due dates. All materials may be returned to any El Paso Public Library location, no matter where they were checked out.

All materials may be renewed once. You may renew materials in person, by telephone at any library location, or on the Internet at http://sol.ci.el-paso.tx.us/#focus

To better assist you, we would like to know your e-mail address. In the future we would like to e-mail you notices about your account and books that you have requested. You may add your e-mail address on to your account online or by contacting your nearest branch library.

Find out how to get a PIN number.

The Responsibilities of a Library Card

You are legally responsible for all library materials borrowed on you card, whether the items were borrowed with or without your permission. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for materials borrowed on their children’s cards. You must report any change of name, address, or loss of card to the Library immediately. Patrons must pay any fines and/or fees for damaged or lost items. Patrons owning $5 or more in fines will be blocked from checking out any more materials until payment is arranged.

All library materials remain the property of the City of El Paso
regardless of the amount of fines or damages paid.

Overdue Fines

All overdue items are fined at a rate of $0.15 per business day, starting the day after the items are due. Fines are not charged for days that the El Paso Public Library location owning the items is closed. Please note: items from facilities open more than five days per week may accrue larger fines over the same time period than items from other facilities.

El Paso Public Library staff will accept cash, checks, or money orders as payment for overdue fines and lost items. Patrons owing $5.00 or more in fines will be blocked from checking out any more materials until payment is arranged. If you are unable to pay fines immediately, arrangements may be made for a reasonable payment plan. Any new fine accrued before the payment plan is complete will void the arrangement and fines will have to be paid in full immediately. If patrons refuse to pay fines, borrowing privileges will be cancelled.

If You Damage the Materials

The El Paso Public Library will charge a fee of $2.50 per item for materials that show damage when returned. If an item is damaged beyond use, there will a $6.00 Lost Charge plus replacement costs. A fee of $1.00 will be charged for damaged or lost barcodes and audiovisual cases.

If You Lose an Item

The fee for lost library materials will include the replacement costs plus a $6.00 processing fee for each item. If you pay for a lost item, then find it and return it and the receipt for your payment to any El Paso Public Library location within 6 months of your original payment, the replacement cost ONLY (not including the $6.00 processing fee) will be refunded to you. If you return any item any later than the 6 months after your original payment, or if you do not have the receipt for your payment, no refund will be given.

Requests for Library Materials

If you don't find what you need on our shelves, you can ask our staff to help you place requests for library materials from other El Paso Public Library locations. A maximum of 3 requests may be placed on each library card at any one time. You may also place requests yourself by using the Internet. Contact your local library to find out how.

Your requests will be filled as soon as possible, but please be aware that other patrons may be requesting the same items, and that each patron is allowed to renew items once. Library staff will telephone you once your requested items arrive at the destination you choose. Your items will be held for 5 calendar days. Please pick them up as soon as possible.

If the items you need are not available in the El Paso Public Library system, please ask us about ordering them through Interlibrary Loan.