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Official website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Programs & Services

    Statewide Library Card Program

    The Statewide Library Card Program increases the availability of library materials for Pennsylvanians by allowing eligible residents to register for a free library card in person at any participating public library.The program is designed so that you can use the library that is most convenient to you, be it one near your workplace, your family, or while you travel in the commonwealth.

    Get a Free POWER Library E-Card

    Please use our library directory to find your local public library.  Inquire before your visit to learn what identification may be required to apply for a library card.

    If your library participates in the Statewide Library Card Program, and you live in an eligible service area, an Access Pennsylvania logo should be displayed on the library card.  After you have a library card at the library in your home area, you can use the card, along with other identification, to apply for a library card with borrowing privileges at other Access Pennsylvania libraries.

    Eligibility

    To be eligible to participate, Pennsylvania residents must live in a municipality that supports a state-aided public library for its residents (as outlined in the Pennsylvania Public Library Code). Status of eligibility can be found within the Statewide Library Card Eligibility spreadsheet (Excel). Municipalities that are eligible for the program will have a corresponding library name listed within the Home Library column. Municipalities that are not eligible for the program will have “Unserved – Not Eligible” within the Home Library column.  

    Pennsylvania residents who are not eligible to participate in the Statewide Library Card Program may register for a free POWER Library E-Card to use state-funded POWER Library e-resources.  Or, they may investigate whether a nearby library offers a non-resident library card option for free or purchase.  Note that these types of cards do not offer Statewide Library Card Program benefits.