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How to Apply for a Library Card

You are entitled to a Resident Library Card at no charge if you reside within incorporated Aurora, Illinois.

• Library card applicants must be 4 years of age or older. A parent or designated guardian must accompany all minor children (under age 18) in person when applying for, renewing or replacing a library card. See Policy on Minor’s Use of Library Cards.
• Apply for a library card at any library location. To apply, a Photo ID with current address is required. If the Photo ID does not have your current address, see below for other acceptable forms of address verification:

The following are acceptable forms of Photo ID:

• Valid Driver’s License or State ID
• Mexican Consulate ID
• Valid Passport
• Valid School ID

The following are acceptable forms of address verification:

• Property Tax Bill
• Voter Registration
• Checks with printed name and current address
• Current utility bills: Gas, Electric, Water
• Lease/Mortgage Agreement
• Current Readable Traffic Ticket
• Auto Registration
• Medicaid/Medical Insurance Card
• Current Pay Check

Application Policy

To qualify to borrow library materials, an adult (18 years of age and older) or parent/designated guardian of a minor, is required to fill out and sign a library card application form giving the following information: name, address, telephone, and birthdate. The following must also be provided for minors: the name(s) of parent(s) or designated guardian, age, school, and grade in school. To protect the safety and security of patron identification, and to provide for patron safety and material security, a photograph of each patron will be taken by a member of the library staff at the issuance or renewal of a library card.  The photograph will be stored in the library’s patron database and/or on the issued library card.

Apply for a library card in-person at any of the library locations.To apply for a card, a Photo ID with current address is required. If the Photo ID does not have your current address see above for other acceptable forms of address verification:

Special Cards

Special cards or accounts are available for nonresidents, nonresidents owning property in Aurora, and Aurora companies and organizations. Below is a brief description of special cards and accounts. Some restrictions apply. For more information, contact the Circulation Department at 630-264-4100 (Main), 630-264-3400 (Eola Road), 630-264-3600 (West).

Nonresident Card

One-year cards issued to persons residing outside the Aurora city limits and not paying taxes to another library service area. Payment of an annual fee, based on the average amount of property taxes paid by Aurora residents, is required (As of July 1, 2011, the fee will be $165). Members of the household residing at the same address are eligible for a card by payment of the single fee.

Nonresident Taxpayer Card

One-year term cards issued to a nonresident who, as an individual or as a partner, principal stockholder, or other joint owner, owns taxable property or who is a senior administrative officer of a firm, business, or other corporation owning taxable property within the city upon presentation of the most recent tax bill of that taxable property.

Company Account

One-year term account established for a business or corporation whose address is within the corporate city limits of Aurora.

Organizational Account

One-year term account issued to an organization whose address is within the corporate city limits of Aurora.

Computer Use Only Card

The Computer Use Only Card is issued to individuals who do not qualify for any other library card type. This card may be issued to individuals who do not wish to purchase a Nonresident Card. Library materials may not be checked out on this card; it is for computer access only. The fee for this card is $1.00

Reciprocal Borrowers Card

The Aurora Public Library participates in the Reciprocal Borrowing Program (RBP). RBP patrons must present and register the library card issued by their “home” library. RBP patrons have the same rights and responsibilities as Aurora cardholders, with a few exceptions: They cannot place holds or use Interlibrary Loan services, and they do not have remote access to Online Databases. RBP patrons may use databases inside the library.

General Policy on Library Cards

• Resident Library Cards are valid for three years.
• Library cards may not be transferred from one person to another.
• Change of address, telephone number, or name should be reported to the library immediately.
• Lost or stolen cards should be reported to the library immediately. All materials checked out on a card prior to a loss or theft being reported are the responsibility of the cardholder. Replacement fees for library cards are:
  • Adult card (not expired) $3
  • Ages 13 and under (not expired) $1
  • Computer use Only $1

Policy on Minor’s Use of Library Cards

• A parent or designated guardian must sign the library card application for minors (under age 18) unless they are married or otherwise legally emancipated.
• A parent or designated guardian must be present with the minor when he or she applies, renews or replaces a library card.
• A parent or designated guardian must provide proof of residency within the city.
• A parent or designated guardian who resides in Aurora and has part-time legal custody of a minor child assumes full responsibility for obtaining a card for the child when the child is residing with him/her.
• A parent or designated guardian is responsible for all materials selected for or by a child. The responsibility does not rest with the library.
• A parent or designated guardian may designate restricted access to only juvenile and young adult materials at any time for his/her child upon signing a Parental Restricted Access to Library Materials Form.
• Minors, upon turning 18 years of age and applying or reapplying for a library card as an adult, are responsible for all debt owed on their card as a minor.

How to Check Out Library Materials

Materials can be checked out at the Circulation Desk or at the Self-Check stations. You must have your library card with you to check out materials. Receipts listing checked-out items and their due dates are printed. Materials must be returned by the end of the loan period. An overdue fine is charged for material returned past the due date. Reference materials and current periodicals are not available for loan.

Loan Periods

• 1 Week: Qwik Pik Bestseller Books, DVDs, and Video Games.
• 2 Weeks: New Adult Fiction
• 4 Weeks: All other books, books on tape/CD, music CDs, magazines, videos and playaways
• 8 Weeks: Sheet music, sculptures
• Note: Bookmobile loan periods may be different from this schedule

Check-out Limits

Patrons may have 75 items checked out at any one time. Due to the limited availability of some items, check-out limits have been placed on the following items:

• 2 Videogames per library card.
• 5 DVDs and Playaways per card
• 10 of the following : Books on Cassette/CD, music CDs, CD Rom, magazines per card
• 6 sculpture, 2 Viewmaster viewers, 6 Viewmaster reels per card
• No limit on videos per library card.
• Note: Bookmobile loan periods may be different from this schedule

Renewals

Some materials can be renewed for one additional loan period. Materials may be renewed in-person, online at My Account or by calling any library location. Items on reserve for others may not be renewed.

Fines & Fees

Overdue Fines

• 15 cents per day per item, with the exception of videos, DVDs, Qwik Piks
• $1 per day per item for DVDs, Qwik Pik Bestseller Book, and video games.
• $1 per item for audio visual materials if not returned in the audio-visual drop

Note: Bookmobile fines may be different from this schedule. 

Additional Fees

• $1 Computer Use Only Card
• $1 initial purchase of a computer print card (Value may later be added to the card.)

Overdue notification is a courtesy. Notification can be made by telephone, regular mail or email. To ensure prompt notification, please inform the library of a change in contact information. The library is not responsible if notification is not received. Contact the library if you wish to receive email notification.

Lost & Damaged Materials

When an item that has been checked out to a patron is reported lost, the patron will be charged the replacement cost of the item.

Replacement costs for Interlibrary Loan materials are determined by the lending library. Patrons will be liable for the cost of a damaged item, except where such damage is determined to be the result of normal wear and tear.

Where to Return Materials

Patrons may return materials to any Aurora Public Library location in person or by using the book drop. Book drops are provided as a convenience to patrons. The library is not responsible for items left in book drops. Book drops are for the return of books and magazines only. Audiovisual materials should not be returned in the book drops. The West Branch has a separate audiovisual drop. Church Road Outreach Services has a book drop.

Restriction of Borrowing Privileges

Library patrons may be barred from checking out items or accessing the Internet when more than $10 in fines or fees have accumulated on their account.  Accounts totaling $30 or more in fines and/or replacement cost will be sent to collection and a $10 collection agency fee will be added.

Library cards will not be renewed for any patron with unpaid fines, fees or overdue materials.

Library Patrons Account Access

Patrons may access their accounts using the library’s online card catalog through the library’s web site: www.aurorapubliclibrary.org. A Personal Identification Number (PIN) and library card number is needed to access the account. The PIN number must be established for you by a library staff member.

Patrons have access to the following information about their library card account:

• Items checked out on their card
• Date when the materials are to be returned
• Fines, blocks, account messages
• Materials waiting for pickup at the library
• Requested items not yet available
• Home address on file with the library

Patrons have the ability to perform the following transactions:

• Renew materials (not on hold for another patron)
• Request material that is at another APL location
• Reserve material that is currently checked out to another patron
• Reserve Interlibrary Loan materials
• Change E.Z log-in information

Notification and Pick-Up of Reserve Items

Patrons will be notified when a reserve item becomes available. Notification may come by telephone, mail or email. To ensure prompt notification, please inform the library of any change in contact information. Contact the library if you wish to receive email notification.

Reserve items will be held for a patron for eight (8) days. If the item is not picked up, it will be made available to the next patron in line or placed back in circulation. Each library branch has a “self-serve” pick-up area for all reserves near the circulation desk on the main floors. If you have any questions or problems, contact the Circulation Department at 630-264-4100 (Main), 630- 264-3400 (Eola Road), or 630-264-3600 (West).