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Unlock 1+million items with your library card including books, ebooks, movies, music, and more.

Do I qualify for a free library card?

If you live, work, study, or own property in St. Catharines, you can get your free library card at any SCPL branch. Visit us with your identification showing your correct name & current address. 

If you’re already a member of your local library in another Niagara municipality, you may be eligible for reciprocal borrowing membership at SCPL.

Register for your Library card online

You can register for a library card in-person at any of our locations or online. If registering for your library card online, please allow 1-2 business days for your request to be processed.

Or download a printable copy of our Membership Registration form here.

Renew your Library card

All customers are asked to renew their library card each year by confirming their identification and address.

FAQ

What types of identification is needed to get a library card?

For all memberships, we require identification showing your correct name and current address.

  • A valid Ontario Driver’s License or
  • A valid Ontario Photo ID card or
  • Two pieces of valid identification (one must have your current address)

Once per year, we may ask you to show identification again as part of our annual identification check.

What is Reciprocal Borrowing and do I qualify?

As of September 3rd, 2024, SCPL invites Niagara libraries to join us in reciprocal borrowing. Reciprocal borrowing will allow customers of participating Niagara libraries to sign up for a St. Catharines Public Library card and access our physical collection (Library of Things and digital collections excluded), Gamerspace, and Port Plus, the Port Dalhousie branch’s extended access model.

At this time, the following Niagara libraries have signed on to participate in reciprocal borrowing at SCPL:

  • Niagara Falls Public Library
  • Welland Public Library
  • Wainfleet Township Public Library
  • Port Colborne Public Library
  • Thorold Public Library
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library
  • Lincoln Pelham Public Library
  • Grimsby Public Library
  • Fort Erie Public Library

If you’re a customer of a participating Niagara library, bring your library card and identification to any SCPL location to sign up for your St. Catharines Public Library card.

How is Reciprocal Borrowing different from LiNC?
 

Libraries in Niagara Cooperative (LiNC) is a system where libraries have come together to share a collection. However, with reciprocal borrowing, customers of participating Niagara libraries can register for their own St. Catharines Public Library card in order to access our collection. Items borrowed from SCPL must then be returned to an SCPL location.

I don’t live, work, or study in St. Catharines, can I still get a library card?

Yes! If you aren't eligible for a free library card and I don't qualify for reciprocal borrowing, you can purchase a one-year membership with full borrowing privileges for a fee of $75, or a 6-month membership for $37.50.

How much are late fines?

As of February 21, 2023, SCPL is fine free for all. This means that all of our library memberships no longer accrue late fees. Fine freedom is an important step in our mission to make SCPL a library for all.

If your item is 21 days overdue, the item will be considered lost and we will send you a bill for its replacement fee.

Where can I find information about renewals, fines, and loan periods?

Items are automatically renewed for 7 days from the date the item renewal is performed. Items cannot be renewed if the item is on hold for another customer. You can renew items:

  • Online in your library account
  • By calling our TalkingTech interactive voice messaging system at 905-687-4832
  • Or by speaking with a library staff member at 905-688-6103

For more information about fines and load periods, download our Information Guide here.

 

For Educators

Educator memberships are available to educators currently working or living in St. Catharines.  This includes Kindergarten to Grade 12 classroom teachers in public and private schools and licensed daycare employees.  The membership allows educators to borrow library items for an extended period . Bring proof of educator employment when you pick up your library card.