Your Library Card is your key to checking out books and library materials at any of Austin Public Library’s 21 locations and access to digital resources.
Have questions or need assistance?
Want to find out if you already have a Library Card or if your residential address is eligible for a free Library Card before applying? Contact Customer Service at 512-974-7475 or circ.link@austintexas.gov.
The Austin Public Library eCard gives homebound adults or just plain busy Austin residents (18 years and older) access to the Digital Resources. If you have an Austin Public Library Card, you already have access to the Digital Resources.
Note: Adults who live in Texas, but not in an Austin Full Purpose, Austin 2 Mile ETJ, Austin 5 Mile ETJ, Austin LTD jurisdiction, can purchase an eCard for an annual fee of $22.
APL accepts the following types of valid (or expired for one year or less) photo IDs:
*Digital forms of identification are accepted
*Digital forms of proof of address documents are accepted
Austin Public Library cards are available for free to people residing within the city limits of Austin and, beginning March 11th, 2024, the extended Austin Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) and Limited Purpose Jurisdiction. Use the City of Austin's Jurisdictions Web Map tool to find out what jurisdiction your residential address is in.
If your residential address description shows Austin Full Purpose, Austin 2 Mile ETJ, Austin 5 Mile ETJ, or Austin LTD, you qualify for a resident Library Card free of charge. All other descriptions are considered non-resident addresses and will require a non-resident fee in order to get or renew a Library Card. More information about applying for a Library Card can be found here.
Use of the Library's resources while in any Library location, including use of Online Databases, use of public computers and wifi, and participation in Library programs is free and open to all.
For more information, contact Austin Public Library Customer Service at 512-974-7475 or circ.link@austintexas.gov.
Here's how you can find out in which jurisdiction you reside:
Click I want to… and then click Find My Jurisdiction
Enter your address (house number and street name only).
From the dropdown list that's displayed, click on the address you're searching for and click Submit.
If the search displays results, look at the Address Description section to see the jurisdiction for the address entered.
The Austin Full Purpose and, beginning March 11th, 2024, Austin 2 Mile ETJ, Austin 5 Mile ETJ, Austin LTD jurisdiction description indicates you qualify for a resident Library Card free of charge.
What if my address has another jurisdiction description displayed?
If you see another description, such as another city Full Purpose / ETJ / LTD, or No Address Found, the address is not within an area eligible for a free Library Card and will require a non-resident fee in order to get or renew a Library Card.
Austin Public Library has a variety of membership options that allow cardholders to borrow APL materials and/or access the Digital Resources.
Adult Resident and Non-Resident Library Cards are issued to applicants 18 and older. To apply for a new or replacement Adult Resident or Non-Resident Library Card, the person whose name is on the account must complete a Library Card Online Application or Adult Library Card Application and bring in person a valid/acceptable photo ID and proof of current residence address in their name to any Austin Public Library location. For extenuating circumstances that do not allow for regular Library Card registration or renewal, please call the Customer Service Office at 512-974-7475.
Renewing Adult Cards
To renew an expired Adult Library Card, the person whose name is on the account must either:
Adults renewing their Library Card will need to pay any unpaid fees owed on the account down to $24.99 or less. However, if the account has been referred to collections, all fees owed must be paid in full. Non-residents have to pay a non-resident fee in full to renew their Library Card.
Note: Name changes require another library card application to be completed and signed.
Youth Resident and Non-Resident Library Cards are issued to applicants who are under 18 years of age in the presence of an adult parent/guardian signee. To apply for a new or replacement Youth Library Card, the adult parent/guardian signee must complete a Library Card Online Application or Youth Library Card Application and bring in person a valid/acceptable photo ID and proof of current residence address in their name to any Austin Public Library location. If the child is not present when applying for a new card, the parent/guardian is required to present either the child's birth certificate, photo ID, or Social Security Card. A child can only have one Youth card account. For split households, please call the Customer Service Office at 512-974-7475.
Student Cards
The non-resident fee is waived for any student who either lives in or is enrolled in any school in Travis County - including private school, public, daycare, charter, and home school students - until completion of high school. These students are eligible for a Student Library Card. For more information and frequently asked questions, check out our Student Library Card page.
Renewing Youth Cards
To renew an expired Youth Library Card, the parent or guardian listed on the account must either:
Adults renewing a Youth Library Card will need to pay any unpaid fees owed on the account down to $24.99 or less. However, if the account has been referred to collections, all fees owed must be paid in full. Non-residents have to pay a non-resident fee in full to renew their Library Card.
Note: Parent/Guardian changes require another library card application to be completed and signed.
The Enhanced Library Card is a library card for adults (18 or older) that includes your library card number, photograph, address, date of birth, the expiration date, and a scannable barcode.
The Enhanced Library Card can be used to check out items from APL's physical collection and/or access to APL's Digital Resources, depending on your membership type.
Enhanced Library Cards are available at nine Austin Public Library locations, which include:
The Austin Public Library eCard gives homebound adults or just plain busy Austin residents (18 years and older) access to the Digital Library Resources. If you have an Austin Public Library Card, you already have access to the Digital Library Resources.
The Austin Public Library offers special Group Library Cards for use by faculty at schools and educational/service groups in Austin and Travis County, such as public, home and private schools, day care centers, group homes, or nursing homes.
Group Cards are used to checkout materials for the institution, not for personal use.
The Group Card is issued in the name of an individual. That individual is legally responsible for items checked out on the card regardless of any agreements he/she may have with the school or institution involved.
The individual applying for the Group Card must complete a Group Card Application at any Austin Public Library location and present it along with their valid/acceptable photo ID, proof of address, and proof of current employment/affiliation with the institution that the card will be used for. A letter from the director, coordinator or principal of the institution, or a recent pay stub is acceptable current proof of employment/affiliation. Applicants who home school will have to present a letter stating that they home school. (Digital proof of current employment/affiliation is acceptable.)
Group cards are good for one year. To renew an expired Group card, proof of current employment or affiliation with the institute is required. (Digital proof of current employment/affiliation is acceptable.)
Adults applying for a new Group Card or renewing an existing card will need to pay any fees owed on their own account down to $24.99 or less. However, if the account has been referred to collections, all fees owed must be paid in full.
Benefits include a 6-week loan period for books and CDs. (DVDs/Blu-Ray have a 3-week loan period.) With the exception of DVDs/Blu-Ray, items on Group Cards can’t be renewed.
For additional information and requirements, please ask at any Library location or call 512-974-7475.
Limited Access Austin Public Library Cards
TexShare borrowing cardholders from other libraries have the option to apply in person for a free limited access Austin Public Library card by presenting a current/valid paper TexShare card from a participating library system, along with a valid/acceptable photo ID and proof of current residence address. TexShare cardholders are limited to borrowing physical materials only, with a maximum of 10 items checked out to their account at one time. TexShare cardholders will not be able to access Overdrive, ILL, or have remote access to the online databases or any of the other Digital Resources.
Limited access library cards will expire on the same date as the borrower's paper TexShare card (up to 1 year from the APL registration or renewal date) and must be renewed before privileges are restored. A current/valid TexShare card, photo ID and proof of address must be presented in order to renew the card and only accounts with $24.99 or less owed are eligible for renewal.
Please note that, per TexShare Program rules, paper TexShare Cards that have corrections will not be accepted.
TexShare Cards for APL Cardholders
Austin Public Library cardholders (resident and paid non-resident) who have had their Library Card for at least 6 months and are in good standing, are eligible to apply for a paper TexShare Card to borrow materials from other participating library systems. TexShare privileges may be revoked at any time by the borrower's home library or withheld by the lending library.
APL cardholders wanting a paper TexShare Card to use at a participating library system will need to contact Customer Service at 512-974-7475 or circ.link@austintexas.gov to find out how to apply. Cardholders will need to fill out a TexShare Agreement Form and will receive the TexShare Card via U.S. Mail in 7-10 days. The TexShare Card will be valid for up to 1 year.
An APL customer who uses a paper TexShare Card to obtain library privileges at another library will be required to observe and abide by all the regulations and policies of the lending library.
The TexShare cardholder will assume responsibility for all items checked out on and all library fees (including collections fees) incurred by the use of the TexShare Card.
For more information go to the TexShare Card Program website, or call 512-974-7475.
