Apply for a Library Card

Library cards are free for most residents of Miami-Dade County, except for the municipalities of Bal Harbour Village, Miami Shores Village, and the Town of Surfside. Residents of these municipalities are eligible to purchase a library card for an annual fee of $65.00.

We partner with the public libraries in Hialeah, Homestead, North Miami, and North Miami Beach through Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements to ensure residents of those cities are also eligible for a Miami-Dade Public Library System library card.

Proof of address is required at the time of application. For a list of accepted identification and address documents, click here.

To receive a free library card, you must provide a photo ID and proof of residency within the Miami-Dade Public Library Taxing District. You can apply online or in person. Required documents can be submitted online or during library service hours at any library location. For a list of accepted forms of identification and proof of address, click here.

Due to the high demand for and increasing costs associated with the extensive online content we provide, especially eBooks and eAudiobooks, we no longer offer the option to purchase a Miami-Dade Public Library System library card to out-of-County residents.

Yes. The following individuals are eligible for a free library card:

• Current employees of Miami-Dade County or the Jackson Health Trust System
• Teachers and school support staff employed in public or private schools or group programs within Miami-Dade County

Applicants must provide their home address and documentation verifying employment and residency. The following documents are accepted: a valid employee ID, current paystub, or verified employee email address. Email CustomerCare@mdpls.org for assistance.

Library cards are available to residents of all ages.

• Applicants ages 15 years and under require parental authorization.
• Applicants ages 16 and older can apply online or in person.

Your library card will be active once your online application is verified and approved. Our goal is to complete the review and verification of your application within 24 hours. You will be notified by email when your application has been approved.

You will receive a digital library card number that provides you with the same level of access as a physical card. A physical card is only mailed upon request. To get a physical library card, please visit any library location.

With your library card, you can borrow books, eBooks, eAudiobooks, videogames, Wi-Fi hotspots, Chromebook laptops, and much more. For more information about borrowing materials from the library, click here.

A full-access library card is valid for three years and automatically renews if the cardholder remains eligible and the account is in good standing. An Easy Access Card is valid for six months, a Reciprocal Borrower Card for three years, and a Non-Resident Card for one year.

You must provide your residential or property ownership address for verification. Once your library card application is authenticated and a library card number is issued, you may request a mailing address update by emailing CustomerCare@mdpls.org.

Once your library card number is issued, you can download our free mobile app, enter your library card number and PIN, and access a scannable digital version of your library card on your smartphone to use when you visit the library.

Yes. If you have either a physical or digital card, you will have access to any of the services, content, or other materials available in a library location or online. If you need assistance in obtaining or finding your library card account number or PIN, please email CustomerCare@mdpls.org your name, address, phone number, and date of birth.

Your PIN/password is a four-digit number you selected when you originally applied for or were issued your library card (physical or digital). Using the email address associated with your account, go to Log In and click on Forgot your PIN/password.

Enter your library card number and check your email for a link to update your PIN. Select and confirm your new PIN/password.

Forgot which email is associated with your account? Please email CustomerCare@mdpls.org.

If you replaced your library card, your card number has changed. Your OverDrive (Libby) account will reset with your new library card number. If you’re using the Libby mobile app, you'll need to remove your old card number and add your new one. Any checkouts and holds associated with your old account won’t appear in the new account. Here’s how to retrieve those items:

1. Contact CustomerCare@mdpls.org for support.
2. Provide the cardholder’s first and last name, current library card number, and previous card number (if known).
3. We will contact you once your user activity from your previous card number has been merged or if there are any issues.

Yes. If you replace your library card, your card number will change. You will need to update your account information individually for each digital product — OverDrive (Libby), hoopla Digital, LinkedIn Learning, and others.