Library Cards at EML
Library Card Eligibility
All registrations for an Eldorado Memorial Library Card require photo identification (driver’s license or State ID is preferred) that shows the current address within the Eldorado Memorial Library District’s service area.
If an individual’s photo ID is not current or shows an address outside the service area, the individual must show proof of address inside the district’s service area along with their photo ID.
Children ages 5 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to apply for an Eldorado Memorial Library card. Both the child and guardian must be present during card registration. The parent or legal guardian must present their photo identification and proof of current address within the Eldorado Memorial Library District’s service area.
Please note: Library cards are available to everyone who is in good standing with all SHARE libraries. Those with fees over $5 or overdue items from any SHARE library are not eligible to receive an Eldorado Memorial Library card.
Anyone with a library account can obtain a replacement library card for only $1.
Types of Cards
Resident
Everyone age 5 and up who lives within the Eldorado Memorial Public Library District’s service area is eligible for a free “Resident” library card. Resident cards must be renewed every 3 years.
Non-Resident
If you live outside the Eldorado Memorial Public Library District’s service area, Illinois state law requires (75 ILCS 5 Illinois Local Library Act) that you pay a non-resident fee to obtain a card at the library closest to your address. If Eldorado Memorial Library is closest to your address, this fee entitles you to an Eldorado Memorial Library card for each member of your household. The current 1-year non-resident card fee is $90. Non-resident cards must be renewed every 1 year.
Non-Resident Property Owner
If you live outside the Eldorado Memorial Public Library District’s service area but own property within that service area, you’re entitled to one free library card for the exclusive use of the individual whose name appears on the tax bill for that property. Non-resident property owner cards must be renewed every 1 year.
Illinois Library Law allows for low-cost or no-cost library cards in other circumstances. Contact the library with any questions about your eligibility for a library card.
Borrowing Rules
Each individual must present their library card when checking out material from the library.
Items at Eldorado Memorial Library are available to borrow for 14 days and have 2 available renewal periods. New items are not eligible to renew.
Reference and genealogy items are available to review inside the library only.
Overdue items are subject to a 10 cent-per-day fine.
Items borrowed via SHARE or Interlibrary Loan are subject to borrowing rules set by the item’s home library and those rules may not match the guidelines listed above.