Benefits of a Library Card
With your Pulaski County Public Library card, you can …
- Borrow thousands of books, magazines, DVDs, and more.
- Research and learn using the library’s online databases and research tools.
- Stream and download music, movies, e-books, digital magazines and television shows.
- Check out our Library of Things collection.
- Participate in Book Clubs and other events with your friends and neighbors.
It all starts with your library card!
Signing Up for Your Library Card
- Physical library cards allow you to check out books, DVDs, and other physical materials. They also grant access to all of the library’s online resources to residents of the library district.
- To get a card, come to the library and fill out a short application. Bring an ID with you. If your ID doesn’t have your current address, bring a bill, piece of mail, or other official document that shows the current address. You will also need to list two contact people with different phone numbers from your own.
- If you don’t live within the PCPL library district, you may be subject to other eligibility and application requirements. See our "Types of Library Cards" section below to learn more.
- Children under 18 must have a parent or guardian present to apply for a library card.
- You can sign up for a digital library card online without setting foot in the library! Digital cards let you use the library’s online resources only.
- You must be 18 years of age or older and you must reside or own property in the Pulaski County Public Library district in Indiana to get a digital card.
- If you already have a resident library card, you don't need a digital card as well – your resident card gives you full access to the library's digital services.
- To apply, use our digital library card sign-up form. We may ask you to send additional information if we are unable to verify your residency based on the information provided.
- You must provide an email address on the sign-up form. If you do not, we will not be able to set up your card.
- Once you’re verified, we will send you an email with your digital library card information.
Types of Library Cards
This full access card is available to individuals who live or own real property in the Pulaski County Public Library district. There is no charge to sign up for a resident card. Residents are eligible for physical cards or digital cards.
If you don’t live within the Pulaski County Public Library district, you may be able to get a reciprocal library card. To be eligible, you must have a resident card with an account in good standing at your home library, and that library must participate in Indiana’s Statewide Reciprocal Borrowing Covenant. Holders of non-resident cards at other libraries are not eligible for a reciprocal card.
There is no charge to sign up for a reciprocal card. Reciprocal borrowers can check out physical items and access some online resources. Services such as Overdrive, Hoopla, and Kanopy are not available to reciprocal cardholders, but may be available at your home library.
Don’t live within the Pulaski County Public Library district and aren’t eligible for a reciprocal card? In that case, you can purchase a non-resident library card. Non-resident cards allow full access to the library collection. The fee is established each January by the library board in accordance with state guidelines. As of January 2024, the fee for a non-resident card is $126.52. A non-resident card is good for one year from the date of purchase.
People who live in another library district and have a library card from their “home” library or who have purchased a non-resident library card may purchase a Public Library Access Card (PLAC). The Public Library Access Card is sponsored by the Indiana State Library and is valid for 1 year. The fee is set by the Indiana State Library annually. PLAC users have the same access to services at PCPL as a Reciprocal Cardholder.
Reregistering an Expired Library Card
Resident library cards expire three years from the date they were issued. Reciprocal, non-resident, and PLAC library cards expire after one year.
An expired card can't be used to check out materials and can't be used to access the library's digital services until it has been reregistered.
If your library card has expired, you can reregister it by calling the library at 574-946-3432 or coming in to verify and update your contact information.
Reregistered cards are subject to any guidelines and fees relevant to the card type (e.g. non-resident, PLAC, etc.). See "Types of Library Cards" above.
Once we've reregistered your library card, you'll be able to use it to check out materials and access digital services again.
You won't get a new physical card. You'll continue to use your existing card and its corresponding library card number.
Learn More
Do you have a question that isn’t answered here? Check out our main FAQ page to find answers to some frequently asked library card questions.
We’re always happy to answer questions! Please feel free to give us a call or send us a message.