I. ELIGIBILITY FOR A LIBRARY CARD

Any resident of the following counties who is at least five years old is eligible for a Chatham County Public Library (CCPL) card:  Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Harnett, Lee, Moore, Orange, Randolph, Wake.  Anyone who works in Chatham County, regardless of where they live, is entitled to a Chatham County Public Library Card.

Library cards allow borrowers 16 and up to check out any library materials, including DVDs and electronic resources. Patrons ages 16 and up are also eligible to access the internet on public access computers.

Borrowers are advised that some library materials, such as reference books or materials of historical significance, cannot be circulated.

II. APPLYING FOR A LIBRARY CARD

Library cards may be obtained in person at any of our three library branches.  To obtain a library card, applicants ages 16 and older must supply a current photo ID and proof of current address. Proof of current address must include the applicant’s name. If the photo ID is a current North Carolina driver's license showing the applicant’s current physical address, this can serve as both photo identification and proof of residency. The following are acceptable documents that can be used to apply for a library card.

• Faith ID
• Passport
• Student identification card
• Valid driver's license
• Valid state identification card

Proof of residential address:

• Cancelled mail with applicant's name and address dated within the last 30 days
• Lease agreement
• Personal check with applicant's name and address
• Tax record
• Utility bill
• Vehicle registration
• Voter registration

By applying for a library card, applicants agree that they will comply with all library policies and that they will be financially responsible for lost or damaged library materials.

III. CHILDREN’S LIBRARY CARDS

Minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to apply for a library card. The parent or guardian must present a current photo ID along with proof of their current local physical address as outlined in part II. The parent or legal guardian will be financially responsible for library materials that are lost or damaged by a child in his or her care. No adult may use a child’s card to check out materials.

When youth ages 13 to 15 apply for library cards, library staff will inform parents or guardians that, if they agree, their child may have unsupervised internet access. In this case, the child’s account will be set up as Internet Youth, which will permit access to the internet without a parent or guardian present.

Borrowers must be at least 16 years old to check out DVDs from the adult collections.

K-12 students enrolled in any Chatham County public school are automatically given a Chatham PASS library account using their unique school ID number.  Parents or legal guardians are able to opt out of Chatham PASS by contacting their school’s media specialist. Library staff are not permitted to give out school ID information in person, by telephone, or via email.

IV. TEMPORARY CARDS

Cards may be given to temporary residents of Chatham County, such as summer camp employees and visiting caregivers or relatives, at the discretion of the branch manager. The expiration date for temporary cards is three months from the date the card is issued. Temporary cardholders must provide both a local and a permanent address when applying for a library card.

V. ONLINE ACCESS CARDS

Online access cards may be issued to residents of group homes and other residential facilities, as well as other individuals who are unable to provide a photo ID or proof of address. Online access cards allow the use of library computers and online resources; no physical library materials may be checked out on these cards.

VI. INSTITUTIONAL CARDS

Institutions such as day care centers, nursing homes, shelters, or group homes may apply for an institutional card. The institution’s director should make a written request for an institutional card to the Director of Chatham County Public Libraries. Institutional cards will be issued at the discretion of CCPL’s director, contingent on an agreement that the institution accepts full financial responsibility for all library materials checked out to that card. The institution will supply CCPL with a list of authorized card users and will update the list whenever necessary.

Revised 08-19-2025