About Library Cards

Library cards are available at the circulation desk during operating hours. The Library has several types of Borrower Registration Types. Residents of Lincoln County receive free library service. Nonresidents, living outside Lincoln County, are required to pay an annual fee for full library service.

People living outside Lincoln County who own property and pay property taxes in Lincoln County are entitled to free library service. Proof of current property tax payment is required at registration and upon account renewal after expiration.

All registered borrowers may receive up to two borrower cards for free. Registered borrowers requesting borrower card replacement will be charged the card replacement fee for each replaced card beyond the initial two cards. In order to checkout materials from the library, borrowers are required to provide either their North Platte Public Library card and/or a government, educational, or corporate issued photo identification that clearly states their name at every checkout session. Library staff are not allowed to checkout to borrowers based on personal knowledge of the individual. Photo identification and/or a North Platte Public Library card are required from everyone to checkout materials from the library. Staff may ask borrowers for photo identification to verify a library account at any time, even if a library card is presented.

Borrower Privacy Policy

Nebraska Statue 84-712.05 denotes records which may be withheld from the public including “records or portions of records kept by a publicly funded library which, when examined with or without other records, reveal the identity of any library patron using the library’s materials or services”.

North Platte Public Library relies upon all employees, volunteers, and advisory board members to keep library records and patron information confidential from any agency of federal, state or local government. Library records are defined as, but not limited to: library transactions, circulation records, personal information, or personnel information. The exception to this law is when federal, state or local law enforcement are pursuing civil, criminal, or administrative discovery procedures or under legislative investigatory power. Any library employee receiving the issuance or enforcement of such process, order, or subpoena is directed to notify the designated library authority on duty at the time and the Library Director as soon as possible. The Library Director and/or the Information Systems Manager may contact the City Attorney and request from a court of competent jurisdiction that good cause has been shown for the process.

Registration Requirements

Library applications are available at the circulation desk during operating hours. The Library has several types of Borrower Registration Types. Residents of Lincoln County receive free library service. Nonresidents, living outside Lincoln County, are required to pay an annual fee for full library service.

All registered borrowers may receive up to two borrower cards for free. Registered borrowers requesting borrower card replacement will be charged card replacement fee for each card beyond the initial two cards.

In order to checkout materials from the library, borrowers are required to provide either their North Platte Public Library card and/or a government, educational, or corporate issued photo identification that clearly states their name at every checkout session. Library staff are not allowed to checkout to borrowers based on personal knowledge of who the individual is, photo identification and/or a North Platte Public Library card are required from everyone to checkout materials from the library. Staff may ask borrowers for photo identification to verify a library account at any time, even if a library card is presented.

Valid forms of ID that are required to complete an application for a Library Card is on of the following:

• Non-expired government issued photo identification with current address.
• Current signed form from ML&W, or similar utility company or governmental agency with current address and an employer, school, or government issued photo id. The letter or form must have been issued indicating service within the current 3 months.
• Parent or Guardian who is responsible for a minor obtaining a library card. The parent or guardian should be able to provide similar identification as if they were obtaining a card for themselves.

Those unable to provide verification of residency may still get a Library card by paying an annual (Non-Resident) or 3 month (Temporary) library usage fee.

Adult Borrower Type

Adult (a) is anyone 18 years of age or older that has an address inside Lincoln County and registers to use the library. Proof of current address AND photo identification is required at application time. Proof of current address includes: government issued ID with a current address inside Lincoln County, pre-printed checkbook address inside Lincoln County, or letter issued within 30 days of application from government, educational, utility, residential, group, or temporary housing on corporate letterhead stating the borrower currently lives at a specific address inside Lincoln County. Photo identification includes: government issued photo ID, photo ID issued by an educational institution, photo ID issued by a corporation. Adults who cannot show proof of current address may obtain a library card as a Temporary Borrower or a Non-Resident Borrower type.

Youth (13-17 years) Borrower

Youth 13-17 years (y) are issued to young adults. These cards reflect similar privileges of a Child borrower card but statistically track circulation use differently in the system. Youth may apply for a library card with or without a parent/legal guardian present and must meet application requirements of an adult or those of a child borrower type. Youth are allowed access to the Technology Learning Center after a parent/legal guardian signs off on the access. Children are not allowed access to the Technology Learning Center.

Child Borrower Type

Child 0-12 years (c) is any child whose parent or legal guardian provides proof of current address which may include their library card. Parent/legal guardian must provide either a current North Platte Public Library card or, photo ID AND proof of address consistent with an Adult borrower type. A parent or legal guardian is required to sign the application form, accepting responsibility for fines accrued by any activity of the minor’s card. The child also is requested to sign the application indicating that they understand the responsibility of taking care of and returning library materials on time. The library does not issue cards to children who have not completed Kindergarten. Children are required to have their library card to checkout materials from the library or must have a parent/legal guardian with them to verify their identity.

Institution Borrower Type

Institution/ILL (inst) privileges are given to institutions and businesses that request a card making the institution responsible for account charges. These are most often given to schools and day care facilities. Institution cards are issued annually and require the institution to request the card on letterhead. The institution may request individual cards be issued to divisions, classes, teachers, etc in the letter. All of those individual cards are tied to the institution account. The Institution is required to track what individuals have Institutional Cards and to promptly notify the library of any lost cards or when an individual is no longer allowed to checkout on the Institution’s account.

Non-Resident Borrower Type

Non-Resident (nr) is for anyone who wishes to use the North Platte Public Library and lives outside Lincoln County. They are required to provide photo identification and proof of current address using the same documents as an adult borrower. Non-Resident cards expire annually and require an annual fee.

NebrasKard

NebrasKard (k) is a reciprocal borrowing program offered to libraries in Nebraska. A person requesting NebrasKard borrower type has a home library that participates in the NebrasKard program. The home library issues them a special card, a NebrasKard, which they present to us for use of North Platte Public Library. They complete the borrower application and must meet proof of current address and photo identification requirements by the same documents as an adult.
NebrasKard borrowers have a lower circulation privilege than Adult.

Temporary Borrower

Temporary (t) is the lowest circulation privilege offered by the library. Temporary cards can be issued to individuals who are unable to prove their current address and require a Temporary Borrower Fee. Government, education, or corporate photo identification is required to obtain a Temporary Card. The card expires in 3 months. This borrower type has minimal circulation privileges.

Internet Only Card

Internet Only (i) allows people visiting North Platte or frequent travelers through North Platte the opportunity to have a library card that does not allow item circulation but does provide access to the Technology Learning Center without the hassle of guest procedures. They may be allowed to carry up to a $1.00 balance for TLC printing, if needed. In order to obtain an Internet Only library card, individuals must present a government, educational, or corporate photo ID. Current address is still required, but does not require proof of the address and does not have to be within Lincoln County.