Who can get a card?

Property owners within the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Taxing District can get a free library card by providing a property tax bill in their name. Persons living within the Taxing District for at least one month can also obtain a free library card.

The Taxing District is comprised of unincorporated Miami-Dade County and its municipalities, with the exception of Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Hialeah, Miami Shores, North Miami, North Miami Beach, and Surfside.

Residents of Hialeah, North Miami and North Miami Beach can obtain a free library card since the libraries in those communities are part of a reciprocal borrowing agreement.

Employees of Miami-Dade County and Jackson Memorial Trust can get a free library card regardless of where they live. When applying for a library card, employment identification is required. This privilege does not extend to family members. Federal, state and municipal employees do not qualify. Eligibility for this type of card expires when the cardholder terminates employment. Teachers and those who are employed in public or private schools or in group programs in facilities located within the Library System’s Taxing District can get a free library card. Proof of employment in the school or group program is required. Those eligible for resident or property owner cards may not also have a teacher's card.

Individuals who live in Miami-Dade County but who do not meet the qualifications to receive a free library card may purchase one for an annual fee of $50.00. Non-County residents can purchase a card for $100.00 per year.

Individuals not eligible for a free library card may obtain a guest card that will allow them to use public computer stations, and print from these stations for up to two hours a day.

All applicants, both children and adult, must be present when the library application is completed and the library card is issued.

How old do you have to be to get a library card?

There is no age requirement for obtaining a library card. Children 16 years old or younger must have a parent or guardian sign their library card application and initial their library card once issued. There are no differences in the child's ability to borrow or use Library materials. Because both the parent's and child's names are in the patron record, both have access to borrowing information.

What forms of identification are required in order to obtain a library card?

In order to obtain a library card, a person must prove both who they are and where they live. At least one form of photo identification from an official source is required. Photo identification can be a driver's license, employment, student or state ID, a passport or a voter's registration card. Students K-12 can provide a report card, textbook or school book with student's name instead of photo ID. The Florida Driver's License or ID number, if available, will be entered in the borrower record. A child who is accompanied to the library by a parent may obtain a library card based on the parent's personal identification. That identification must meet the criteria to obtain a library card. The following are not considered personal identification: imprinted checkbook, rent receipt, mail or bills. However, these can be used as address verification in conjunction with a personal ID.

Applying for a library card.

To apply for a library card patrons can visit any branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library System and complete a library card application. For the address of a branch near you see our list of Branch locations.

Patrons can also complete an online library card application by clicking HERE.

Online registrants must visit a library branch and provide acceptable ID and proof of residency in order to obtain their library card and have their record approved for checking out materials.

Rules of Use

Cardholders are responsible for all items checked out on their cards and will be charged overdue fines for late materials and for any lost or damaged materials. Patrons are responsible for returning materials on time and in the same condition as when they were checked out. The responsibility for all materials checked out and any financial obligation incurred for overdue materials rests with the patron whose card was used to check out the material. If the card is lost or stolen, the cardholder must inform the library immediately to avoid liability for any materials checked out after the loss. Reporting the loss will prevent any further materials from being checked out on that card. Change of address should be reported immediately. Privileges will be suspended if mail is returned from an incorrect address. Materials can be returned to any branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library System regardless of where the material was borrowed.

Loan Periods, Fees, etc.

Most materials can be checked out for 28 days. Exceptions are videos, DVDs and books in high demand, which are checked out for seven days. All materials, except those for which other patrons are waiting, can be renewed. If an item is already overdue when it is renewed, an overdue fine will be assessed for that period. Videos, DVDs and CD's are limited to 10 each per patron.

Patrons are charged list price for lost or severely damaged materials. Rules on the use and loan period for Interlibrary Loan materials, items borrowed for patrons from other library systems, are dictated by the lending library. Requests can be placed at any branch or online for pick up at any branch. Patrons may have up to 30 requests on file. Patrons may suspend requests when they go on vacation and automatically reactivate when they return. Call your local branch or do it online using your library card and PIN.

Replacement cards

The first time a card is replaced there is no charge. The second time and every time thereafter, there is a $1.00 charge. Lost or stolen cards count as replacements.