About Us
- 75th Anniversary
- About Us - Overview
- Administration
- Annual Reports
- Board of Trustees
- Community Partner Links
- Contact Us
- Library News
- Friends of the Library
- National Medal for Museum and Library Service
- News Releases
- Pierce County Library 2030: Facilities Master Plan
- Pierce County Library Foundation
- Policies
- Restored Levy 2018
- Social Media
- Strategic Plan
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
Library Card Eligibility - Individuals
Policy Statement
Individuals who live or own property in unincorporated Pierce County, annexed cities or towns, or cities and towns served by Pierce County Library System through a contractual agreement are eligible for a free Pierce County Library card and borrowing privileges.
This policy defines eligibility for a Pierce County Library card and borrowing privileges.
Definitions
Reciprocal borrowing agreement: An agreement established between two libraries that allows residents of one library’s service area to borrow library materials in person for free from the other library and vice versa.
Free public library: Defined by RCW 27.12.010 as a library “supported in whole or in part from money derived from taxation.”
Policy
Individuals who live in or own property within the Library’s service area are eligible for a free Pierce County Library card and borrowing privileges. This includes:
-
Active duty military personnel and dependents living on a military installation within unincorporated Pierce County.
-
Persons living on tribal lands located within unincorporated Pierce County.
-
Persons residing in national parks located within unincorporated Pierce County.
-
Persons who live or own property in a city/town annexed to the Library System.
-
Persons who live or own property in a city/town served through a contractual agreement with the Library System.
Non-Resident Borrowers
Persons who live in or own property in the service area of libraries with which Pierce County Library has a reciprocal borrowing agreement are eligible for a library card and borrowing privileges.
Individuals residing temporarily in Pierce County, such as visiting family members or exchange students, are eligible for a free visitor’s card for up to one year.
Cardholder Responsibilities
Cardholders are responsible for:
-
Use of their card, including any fines, fees, charges, or lost or damaged items, including those fines or fees resulting from use as a result of lending the card to another.
-
Immediately reporting a lost or stolen card to Pierce County Library.
-
Ensuring their contact information is current.
Ineligibility for Card
The public library is based on the philosophy that the public interest is served by providing tax-supported library service for everyone in the community. Pierce County Library’s Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring the prudent use of the taxpayers’ investment. Effective and continuous library service, similar to other public services, depends upon the ongoing funding made possible by taxation or other forms of broad based public support.
Pierce County Library is a special purpose district funded primarily through property tax set by state law. Persons residing in any municipality that does NOT support a public library or participate in the support of the Library System, either through annexation or contract, are not eligible for a Pierce County Library card and will not have borrowing privileges at Pierce County Library System.
Privacy
Library card records are confidential in accordance with State law and Library policy.
Board Policy 2.12
Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Pierce County Library System on August 14, 1997 as Borrowing Privileges Policy, to be effective August, 2000. Revised May 11, 2000. Revised September 13, 2006. Revised and renamed April 10, 2013 as Library Card Eligibility – Individuals.
Download or print PDF of policy
Confidentiality of Library Records and Patron Files
Library Card Eligibility – Institutions, Agencies, Businesses, and Organizations
