My husband, daughter, and I all have a deep love for reading. I must admit since becoming a parent I don’t get to indulge in a great paperback as much as I once did. The love for books and reading has passed on to our daughter and I’ve done everything I can to keep her interested. I started reading to her while I was pregnant, and once she was born I never stopped. She started reading on her own at age 4 and hasn’t put her books down. One of the first things I did when I discovered her thirst for reading was to get her a library card. If your child is anything like my little girl, book buying can get costly very quickly.
One thing to help cut cost and foster a home filled with bookworms is to apply for a library card. The library offers a host of other free events and opportunities that come with the privileges of having a library card.
- Rent Movies
- Kids Museum Passport
- Reserve the Library Computers
- Rent Space for Events at the library
- Free Tickets to events
The process is simple here is Chicago. If you reside outside of Chicago, please contact your local library for assistance with applying.
To apply in Chicago, visit any Chicago Public Library location to fill out a library card application. You’ll need to show a current, valid ID with your name, photo and Chicago address, such as any Illinois state-issued identification.
If you don’t have a photo ID with your name and current Chicago address, please bring two pieces of current ID. One of these must include your name and Chicago address, and one must include your name and photo. Accepted forms of ID include:
- Personal check
- Current telephone, gas, electric or cable bill
- Mail postmarked within 30 days
- Voter registration card
Post office box numbers are not accepted. If you don’t have a fixed address, you may use a letter certifying your Chicago residency from the social service agency where you receive mail.
Children under 14 are eligible for a juvenile card. A parent or guarantor needs to sign the child’s library card application and show one piece of ID with home address.
If the child is 14 or older, you may show your current, valid student ID from a Chicago high school as one form of ID when getting a library card. You’ll need to show another piece of ID that includes your home address.
The Chicago Public Library also has ecard.
Use your eCard to:
check out eBooks, audiobooks and more:
- eBooks and audiobooks from OverDrive
- audiobooks from OneClickDigital
- magazines from Zinio
- music, audiobooks and video from Hoopla
- use online resources such as Brainfuse, Morningstar, Mango Languages and the Chicago Tribune Historical Archive
- place holds on materials you want to check out
Information found at http://www.chipublib.org/
As a librarian, I fully support this post!
My kids and I use our library card ALL THE TIME!
Thank you so much. It is truly a bonding place for my daughter and her dad!
Thank you so much. It is truly a bonding place for my daughter and her dad!