Library Card Registration Policy

Residents

Free library cards are available to all residents of and/or property owners in the City of Champaign. Individuals must present photo identification and verification of their current address.

Minors

A parent or legal guardian's consent is required for anyone under the age of 18 to acquire a library card. By applying for a library card for their child, parents/guardians acknowledge responsibility for the items borrowed, fees incurred, and their children's selection of materials. Pursuant to a partnership with Champaign Unit 4 Schools, children and teens enrolled in Unit 4 schools can get a library card regardless of where they live. See Cards for Kids section for information on cards for non-resident children.

Unit 4 Staff

Pursuant to a partnership with Champaign Unit 4 Schools, staff can get a library card regardless of where they live. Staff will need to show a valid Unit 4 School ID.

Restricting Minors' Access to R-Rated Videos

Parents/guardians who reside in the city limits of Champaign have the option of not allowing their minor children to use their own cards to check out videos rated R and above (ratings given by the Motion Picture Association of America). Parents/guardians will indicate this preference when applying for a library card.

City of Champaign Employee Cards

All current City employees are eligible for a Champaign Public Library card regardless of residence. Upon non-resident employee's separation from the City of Champaign, cards will not be eligible for renewal.

Businesses and Organizations

Businesses and organizations located within the corporate limits of the City of Champaign may obtain a free library card for their employees who are not able to otherwise qualify for a Champaign library card. Interested business owners will complete the request form on the Cards for Business page.

Temporary Residents (Short Term Use)

The library extends limited borrowing privileges to people who are living in temporary residences, group homes, or extended stay facilities within the corporate limits of Champaign.The cards are available to people 18 and over. Photo identification is required as well as one of the following forms of verification of residence: a letter from an official of the temporary residence or group home, or proof of payment for current rental charges at an extended stay facility. These library cards are issued for a six-month period. The cards may be renewed for an additional six-month period following verification of identification and residence as above.

Non-Residents

Non-residents are defined as customers who live outside the corporate limits of the city of Champaign, are not in another library service area, and are residents in the Champaign Unit 4 School District. Non-residents may purchase a library card based on the taxable value of their home or rental. Non-residents must present photo identification and verification of address. Staff will use the Champaign County Property Tax Inquiry website to determine the taxable value of the home or a lease for a rental. All members of household will receive individual library cards per non-resident fee. The non-resident fee shall be based upon the library tax rate for the year in which the card is being purchased. Customers who may experience financial barriers to nonresident card fees may discuss alternatives with the Access Services Manager.

Cards for Non-Resident Kids

In accordance with the Cards for Kids Act, the Champaign Public Library offers full-service library cards free of charge to students in grades PreK-12 whose principal residence is not in a public library service area but within the Champaign Unit 4 School District regardless of the school the child attends. The card can be renewed annually.

Cards for Non-Resident Veterans

Veterans with service-connected disabilities of at least 70% who are exempt from paying property taxes on their primary residence, an unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who has previously qualified for this exemption prior to their death, or an unmarried surviving spouse of a service member killed in the line of duty shall be eligible to receive a free full-access nonresident library card. Qualifying veterans or surviving spouses must provide address verification and staff will determine if their residence is exempt from paying property taxes using the Champaign County Property Tax Inquiry website. The card can be renewed annually.

Reciprocal Borrowers

Champaign Public Library's cardholders may borrow items at any other public library within Illinois unless otherwise restricted from time to time by other libraries according to their policies and procedures. Champaign Public Library cardholders may be required to present proof of identification and their valid Champaign Public Library card to register for borrowing privileges at other libraries.

Library cardholders from other public libraries in the state of Illinois may register for borrowing privileges at the Champaign Public Library by presenting proof of identification and a valid library card from their local library. To preserve the ability of the Champaign Public Library to meet the needs of local customers, the library may limit or restrict reciprocal borrowing levels, interlibrary loan privileges, hold request privileges, and access privileges to subscription databases by cardholders from other Illinois public libraries. Reciprocal borrowers may have up to 20 items checked out at any given time. Online or downloadable resources as well as interlibrary loan items are not available to reciprocal borrowers. Restrictions imposed on reciprocal borrowers will be reviewed at least annually by the Board of Trustees.

Special Borrowing and Lending Agreements

The Champaign Public Library may enter into special borrowing and lending agreements with other libraries that participate in the Library's automated catalog.

Reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees on September 17, 2025