Open the door to a world of information and enjoyment. Your Tacoma Public Library Card gives you borrowing privileges at the downtown Main Library and at all neighborhood libraries throughout Tacoma. Your library card provides remote access to  full-text articles from hundreds of magazines, newspapers and journals; business resources; homework assistance; unique local history resources and lots more.

You can get a Library card at any Tacoma Public Library location and, in most instances, check out Library materials immediately. For your convenience, you can also apply online for a Library card. 

Tacoma Public Library Cards are available free to:

• All persons residing within the city limits of Tacoma.
• Persons showing evidence of paying property taxes to the City of Tacoma.
• A current Property Tax Statement from the City of Tacoma is required.
• Businesses with an Annual Business License from the City of Tacoma.
• Business and Occupation Tax License for the current year from the City of Tacoma is required to apply for or renew this card.
• Patrons who do not qualify for a free card, but are full-time employees or students of Tacoma School District #10. Enrollment / employment will be verified with the school district.
• Employees of the City of Tacoma (excluding the employees of the Tacoma / Pierce County Health Department and the Metropolitan Parks District of Tacoma). Current Advice of Deposit required.
• Most (but not all) King County Library System cardholders (call Telephone Reference at (253) 591-5666 for details).
• Persons living in a temporary residence or transitional housing (for example: military personnel, persons residing in a mission or in rehabilitation). This card is active for three months only. The card must be mailed to the cardholder to verify the address. This card has a loan limit of three items at a time.

Tacoma Public Library Cards are available for a fee to:

• Persons not qualified for a free card must pay a non-resident fee that represents the per-capita expenditure of the City of Tacoma for library services to city residents. This fee is adjusted annually. Please ask at the circulation desk for current information, or call Telephone Reference at (253) 591-5666.
• All Pierce County residents are qualified areas are eligible for a free card as per our Reciprocal Agreement with the Pierce County Library System.

Some municipalities adjacent to Tacoma rebate all or part of the cost of a Tacoma Public Library card to their residents. Please check with your local municipal office to see if they participate in this program.

Tacoma Public Library cards for children:

• Children under the age of 14 must have either a parent or legal guardian sign for the child's card. The parent or legal guardian must present their current photo identification (see below)).
• Persons ages 14 - 17 that have current acceptable photo identification (see below) may obtain a Tacoma Public Library card without a co-signer. A parent or legal guardian must still sign to allow Media Privileges for the cardholder.
  

Before a Tacoma Public Library card can be issued to anyone, acceptable current photo identification and proof of residency must be provided.

The following types of identification are acceptable:

• A current state, international or foreign driver's license with photograph.
• A Washington State Identification Card from the Department of Licensing.
• Indian Tribal Affiliation Card.
• Out-of-state Identification Card.
• Passport (USA or foreign).
• U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Identification Card.
• Military Identification.
• US Veteran's Identification Card.
• Local school Identification Card for current year (with photograph).
• Employee Identification Card with photograph issued by a city, county, state or U.S. government agency.
• Mexican Consular Identification Card (Matricula Consular).

Materials that verify current local residency:

• Current acceptable photo identification.
• Pre-printed personal checks from applicant's bank.
• A utility bill or lease agreement from the current month in the applicant's name.
• Recent mail with the applicant's name, residence address and a postal cancellation stamp not more than four weeks old. If this mail is in a window envelope, it must be unopened.

Persons who have acceptable personal photo identification, but who are unable to provide verification of current residency, may have the library card mailed to them to verify residency. However, no library materials can be checked out until the Tacoma Public Library card is received.

If you have questions regarding obtaining a Tacoma Public Library card, please call Telephone Reference at (253) 591-5666.