Get a Library Card

To receive a library card, if you are 18 or older and live in Washington, you may either come to the Washington State Library in-person, or fill out the Library Card Application below and send it to us via email, fax, or regular mail with identification and address verification.

If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian is responsible for the account and must provide the identification required and sign the application form.

Note that we are now offering an e-card.  If you select the e-card option, we will email you your library card number, but we will not issue you an actual card.  This option is ideal if you are only going to use your library card to access ProQuest, the Newsbank database of Washington newspapers, or Microsoft LinkedIn Learning.

Email: [email protected]
Fax: 360-586-7575
Mailing Address: Circulation, Washington State Library, PO Box 42460, Olympia, WA 98504-2460
Please Include: Your completed library card application, a copy of your ID, and address verification if the address on your ID isn't current, if your ID is not from WA, or if your ID does not list your address.

Acceptable Forms of Identification

The Library accepts the following current and signed identification:

• Current Washington State drivers license, Washington State ID card, or out-of-state drivers license
• United States passport
• Foreign passport
• Alien Registration Card
• Military Identification
• Employee identification card from a state agency

Verifying current Washington residence

Materials that verify current residency must also be provided. Acceptable address verification includes:

• Current acceptable Washington photo identification (see above)
• Printed personal checks from applicant's bank
• A utility bill or rent receipt from the current month
• Recent mail with the applicant's name, residence address and a postal cancellation stamp not more than four weeks old
• School identification card from The Evergreen State College, Saint Martin's University, or another Washington college or university

Loan Periods for Library Books and Documents:

The checkout period for library books and documents is three weeks.

Renewing Library Materials:

Most library books and documents can be renewed twice if there are no holds on them.

The renewal period is the same length as the original checkout period of three weeks.

Renewals for library books and material may be done online with your WSL library card under the My Account link. You may also renew by calling 360-704-5200.

We do not charge late fees for our overdue materials.

Overdue/Lost Materials Billing:

Two weeks after an item is overdue, an overdue notice will be generated and mailed and/or emailed.

Thirty days after the item is due it will enter billed status and a bill for the item(s) will be mailed and/or emailed.

If the item is not returned within 30 days of receiving the billed notice, a letter and invoice requiring payment for the material will be mailed.

If the item is not returned within 90 days of receiving the letter and invoice, a final letter and invoice will be mailed.

If the item is not returned within 30 days of receiving the final letter and invoice, the account will be turned over to a collections agency.

Return of the overdue material at any point in this process will clear your account with the State Library.  Until the items are returned, or the fees are paid, you cannot check out additional materials.  If the account has been turned over to collections, you will need to contact the collections agency directly to find out what fees you may owe them.

Please call 360-704-5200 with questions or for assistance.