Your Free Library Card

A library card is provided free of charge to any person who wishes to borrow library materials, and can be obtained at any Library District branch. Individual applicants may apply for a library card in person or on-line.
Only one card is allowed per individual. Library cards expire annually but can be renewed as long as all outstanding fines and fees are paid in full.

Eligibility and Registration

The Garfield County Public Library District borrowing privileges will be extended free of charge to residents of Garfield County, to residents of counties which border Garfield County, and also to Colorado residents who present a valid library card from a Colorado library which participates in the Colorado Library Card Program. In order to borrow materials from the Garfield County Libraries, library users must register for a Garfield County Public Library District borrower's card. Library cards will be issued for one year and will expire on the anniversary of the registratation date. If you do not use your card for a period of two years the card will become invalid.

Acceptable Identification

All applicants for Borrower Cards must provide proof of his/her current residence and photo identification. If you apply on-line you will receive your library card via the mail and will be required to show identification the first time you check out any materials from a branch. Identification with only a post office box number is considered valid.  A General Delivery address is not acceptable.

Photo ID from one of the following:

• Driver's license
• DMV-issued state ID card
• Government-issued ID card
• Student ID card
• Permanent resident card (green card)

Current address verification from one of the following:

• Current utility bill
• Valid Colorado driver's license
• Valid vehicle registration
• Voter registration
• Pay stub with printed address
• Medical ID with address
• Printed checks
• Credit card or bank statement with address
• Court issued documents
• School transcript
• Mortgage paperwork, lease, or rent receipt or property deed

Alternate identification may be accepted at the discretion of the Branch Manager.

NON-RESIDENT CARDS: Persons whom the Garfield County Public Library District does not serve free of charge under the provisions cited above may obtain a Garfield County Public Library District card upon payment of a $10.00 non-resident fee. This fee is an annual charge. An out-of-area non-resident may purchase a non-resident card if they have photo ID with their permanent address on the front.

MINOR CARDS: Cards for children under the age of 18 must be obtained by the child’s responsible parent or legal guardian and requires the signature of said adult. The parent or legal guardian must be present and at that time provide the same eligibility and verification standards required for an adult card. Parents or guardians will be responsible for all items checked out on their children’s cards.

INTERNET ONLY CARDS:  Gives patrons access to computers and Internet access at all Library branches but does not include any other privileges. Applicants are not required to provide photo ID or address verification.

RESTRICTIONS: Cards are issued only to individuals. Individual assumes responsibility for all items checked on the card. Corporate or institutional cards are not issued. Exceptions can be made by the Library Director or her designated representative.

LOST CARDS: Initial library cards are issued free of charge under the conditions listed above. Replacement cost for lost, missing, or damaged cards is $3.00. This charge is not refundable. All library cards are current for one year and will be renewed annually.

LOAN PERIOD AND LIMITS

The following loan periods and limits have been established to provide library users with an adequate amount of time both to use library materials and to return them so they are available in a reasonable amount of time for other users.

LOAN LIMITS: All borrowers are limited to the following materials:

• 5 media items (DVDs)
• 5 subject and/or author

LOAN PERIODS: The majority of items within the library’s collection (books, compact discs, and audiocassettes) may be borrowed for 21 days. If the due date falls on a holiday when the library is closed, the loan period will be extended until the next day that the library is open. Special loan periods have been established for the following library materials:

Videos              Seven (7) days
DVDs               Seven (7) days
Magazines         Seven (7) days
    
RENEWALS:  Two twenty-one (21) day renewals of items with standard loan periods are permitted, if the item is not reserved for other library users. One seven (7) day renewal of videos/DVDs/magazines is permitted if the item is not reserved by another library user. Items may be renewed in the library or by telephoning the branch.  Items may also be renewed on-line through the My Library Card feature of our catalog.

NON-CIRCULATING ITEMS:  Newspapers to which the Garfield County Public Library System subscribes may not be taken out of the building as their physical format is very susceptible to damage; they are often impossible to replace in case of loss; and, they are frequently used as reference sources. Current issues of magazines do not circulate. In addition, books that have been designated for reference use do not circulate.

Please read our complete Circulation Policy.