A Guide to Non-Residential Library Cards

By Emily Sayre

Edited by Emily Quintanilla

Here’s a list of libraries where you can sign up for a library card . . . even if you don’t live there!

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, so we’ve put together a list of libraries across the United States that offer non-residential library cards that anyone can sign up for (as of September 1, 2026). A non-residential library card is a library card you can use from a library system outside your local area or state to access their electronic resources. The fees are typically charged monthly or annually, costing between $25–$150 total per year. Cards can be uploaded into Libby, Kanopy, Hoopla, or CloudLibrary (if offered through that library) for you to use to borrow e-books, movies, e-magazines, and more! If your library has a smaller electronic selection, it may be worth signing up for one or two non-residential library cards so you can access additional materials!

While most of the libraries listed below charge a fee, there are some that are free. We encourage you to donate to whichever libraries you have non-residential library cards through to ensure these libraries are able to continue to offer these services for all!

This list only contains libraries that allow you to sign up for a card online or via email. If you’re traveling, you can also stop into the local library branch and ask if they offer non-residential cards and sign up in-person!

• Queer Liberation Library (Nationwide)

  FREE, requires U.S. postal address

• Quatrefoil Library (Minnesota)

  FREE, donations encouraged

• Arlington Public Library (Texas)

  1 year: $120

• Boise Public Library (Idaho)

  1 year: $75

• Broward County Library (Florida)

  1 year: $38

• Burleson Library (Texas)

  • 1 year (individual): $25

  • 1 year (family): $50

• Cabarrus County Public Library (North Carolina)

  1 year: $25

• Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania)

  2 years: $60

• Central Arkansas Library (Arkansas)

  • 3 months: $18

  • 6 months: $36 

  • 1 year: $72

• Chapel Hill Public Library (North Carolina)

  1 year: $65

• Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (North Carolina)

  1 year: $45

• Fairfax County Public Library (Virginia)

  • 1 year: $50

  • 2 year: $75

  • 3 year: $100

• Griffin Free Public Library (New Hampshire)

  1 year: $100

• Lincoln Library Springfield (Illinois)

  1 year: $70

• Maricopa County (Arizona)

  • 6 months: $25

  • 1 year: $50

• Monroe County Library System (New York)

  1 year: $25

• Morgantown Public Library System (West Virginia)

  1 year: $20

• Murray City Library (Utah)

  1 year: $95

• Newark Public Library (New Jersey)

  1 year: $50

• Plano Public Library (Texas)

  1 year: $50

• Queens Public Library (New York)

  1 year: $50

• Redwood Library & Athenaeum (Rhode Island)

  1 year: $75

• Richland County Library (South Carolina)

  1 year: $65

• Salt Lake City Public Library (Utah)

  1 year: $80

• Spanish Fork Library (Utah)

  • 3 months: $45

  • 6 months: $75

  • 12 months: $135

• St. Louis County Library (Missouri)

  1 year: $50

• Waterbury Public Library (Vermont)

  1 year: $25

• Wilmington Public Library (Delaware)

  1 year: $40

You can also use ReciproCard to see which libraries offer statewide cards in your state or have reciprocal agreements with your local library! Don’t be afraid to talk to your local librarian to see if they have any additional tips or tricks for obtaining additional library cards.