Library Cards and Borrowing
Review the Altadena Library Borrowing Policy, approved in January 2021.
A whole new world awaits you. Altadena Library cards are free to any California resident. Your card gives you free access to tens of thousands of books, audiobooks, e-books, CDs, and DVDs, as well as a wide variety of online databases:
Our printed collections have upwards of 60,000 books and magazines available for checkout around a variety of genres and topics.
Multimedia (Audiobooks, DVDs, Video Games, CDs)
Prefer listening over reading? Check out our multitude of audiobooks on CD! Cardholders can check out the latest movies and music releases, as well as the hottest video games on the market.
Through a robust collection of mobile apps online platforms, enjoy ebooks, e-audiobooks, and streaming of movies and music from your favorite mobile device or computer.
Cardholders with accounts in good standing are able to check out laptops, mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, and even more coming soon in our Library of Things.
Cardholders with accounts in good standing are able to check out laptops, mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, and even more coming soon in our Library of Things.
Library Card Registration
“A picture’s worth a thousand words? A library card’s worth millions.” – Author Roy Blount, Jr.
Library card applications are available at the Information Desks at both the Main Library and Bob Lucas Memorial Library; fill it out and submit it to staff at the Information Desk. The Altadena Library District does not restrict access to library materials based on age, origin, background, or views.
Library Card Types
Community Card
- For California residents
- All ages (additional adult signature needed for patrons ages 0 through 13)
- Requirements: Government issued photo identification with current CA address, or other government, school or work issued photo identification along with address verification for CA
- Acceptable forms of address verification for residence of P.O. box:
- Current vehicle registration
- Current utility bill issued within last 60 days
- Mortgage/Lease agreement
- Paystub
- United States postmarked mail
- Acceptable forms of address verification for residence of P.O. box:
- Expiration: Three years of no usage
- Borrowing Limits:
- Books: 50
- Audio Material, Visual Material & Magazines: 10 per format
- Video Games: 2
- Library of Things: 5*
Curiosity Card
- For non-California residents and/or those without address verification, including minors
- Requirements: Official photo identification or verification (work, government, school)
- Expiration: One year of no usage
- Borrowing Limits:
- Books: 5
- Audio Material, Visual Material & Magazines: 5 per format
- Video Games: 2
- Library of Things: 0
Teacher Card
- For teachers and homeschooling facilitators
- Requirements: Official school identification or private school affidavit
- Checkout Duration: 42 days + standard renewal time
- Expiration: Annual (August 1)
- Borrowing Limits:
- Books: 75
- Audio Material, Visual Material & Magazines: 10 per format
- Video Games: 2
- Library of Things: 5
Digital Card
Need quick access? You can sign up for a Digital Card and get automatic access to databases, online study tools, and digital reading platforms like cloudLibrary, hoopla, PressReader, and more! You can also check out one physical item from our library (Library of Things collection not included).
- For EVERYONE
- Requirements: None – sign up online
- Limits: Online resources, including eBooks and eAudiobooks PLUS one physical item.
- Expiration: One year of no usage, or when replaced with a Community Card or Curiosity Card
To sign up online, CLICK HERE or visit the Catalog and click “Sign up for a library card” under the login section on the right. To be able to check out physical materials and transition your card type, call (626) 798-0833 for more information regarding procedures during building closures.
* Community Cardholders who are fine free, have held a library account for at least 21 days, and demonstrate a history of returning items will be automatically upgraded to Good Neighbor status, which allows them to borrow items from the Library of Things collection.
Fines
Effective May 1, 2017, the Altadena Libraries do not charge overdue fines for late materials. Library patrons will receive notification of overdue items and will be billed for replacement and processing after 30 days overdue. Borrowing privileges will be suspended until materials are returned or District is compensated for lost materials.
Failure to return library items or pay for their replacement will result in having your account turned over to a collection agency. A $15 processing fee will be charged if the account is sent to collections.
Interlibrary Loans (ILL) & Patron-Initiated Purchases (PIP)
The Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service enables the Altadena Library to borrow materials from, and supply materials to, other libraries and library systems. There is a limit of 2 ILL requests a month per patron, as of June 2021.
Patron-Initiated Purchases (PIP) are suggestions submitted by patrons through their account in the online Catalog that are then purchased and reviewed by librarians and may be added to the Altadena Library collection. There is a limit of 12 PIP requests (with a maximum of 5 a month), per fiscal year, per patron, as of June 2021.
Please contact purchasesuggestions@altadenalibrary.org if you have any other questions about purchase suggestions.
This project was supported in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.