Live outside Champaign?

If you live outside Champaign, but own property in Champaign, there is no charge for a library card. You’ve already paid library taxes through your Champaign property tax bill. When you visit us to get a card, just bring along the most recent tax bill or we’re happy to look it up for you on the County Clerk’s website.

If you live outside the Champaign city limits you are eligible to purchase a non-resident card if:

• You live in an area that isn’t served by another local public library.
  – and –
• You live within the Champaign  Unit 4 School District.

How do non-resident cards work?

• Non-resident cards are good for one year; they can be renewed each year.
• Additional cards for your household are free.
• If you prefer, you can pay for your card in installments.

A non-resident card costs the same if you live outside Champaign as it would if you lived in Champaign. The difference is that non-residents pay the fee directly to the library so that everyone who uses the library contributes their fair share. We’ll help you figure the cost of your card.

Get a head start with online self-registration and save the confirmation number. Come in to the library within 30 days to pay for and pick up your card. When you come in, show us:

• Photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport
• Most recent real estate tax bill

Renters

If you lease or rent your home in the Champaign Unit 4 School District but outside the City of Champaign, you can get a non-resident card from the Champaign Public Library.

When you apply for your card, bring along:

• Photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport
• Your lease

The cost for renters is 15% of the current monthly rent. To determine your annual non-resident fee, multiply your rent by 15%.

For example, if your rent is $800 per month, your cost would be:
$800 x .15 = $120

Homeowners

If you live in the Champaign Unit 4 School District but outside the City of Champaign, you can get a non-resident card from the Champaign Public Library. (If you live in another school district, get a non-resident card at the public library in that district. You’ll still be able to use that card at our library.)

To get your card, bring along:

• Photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport
• Most recent real estate tax bill
  

The cost of your card will be the taxable value of your property multiplied by .004222 (that’s 42.22 cents per $100 value). The taxable value is about one-third the fair market value of your property. This is exactly the same calculation used to determine library taxes for Champaign homeowners.

For example, if the taxable value of your home were $40,000 (for a home with a market value of about $120,000), the cost of your card would be
.004222 x $40,000 = $168.88

New homeowners, see special circumstances below.

Special circumstances

The cost of a non-resident card is determined by the Illinois State Library in these situations:

• Property owners who have just built or moved into a home and don‘t have a complete tax bill yet
• Tenant farmers, clergy, or others whose primary residence is provided as part of an employment contract
• Mobile home owners
• Other special circumstances

For 2024–2025, that cost is $259 per year.