LIBRARY CARDS

How to Apply for a Library Card

• Complete an application at the checkout desk of any Library. Identification and proof of current address are required.
• Residents of Greene County who are at least 18 years old may apply for a Library card online.
• Library Cards are issued free of charge to residents of Greene County, Missouri, or persons who pay property tax in Greene County. If you pay property tax in Greene County, but do not live there, bring a current copy of your Greene County property tax receipt.
• Acceptance of a Library Card assumes that you will be responsible for fines for late returns and charges for lost or damaged items checked out by you or anyone listed as having the right to access your card.

Using Your Library Card

• Patrons 18 years of age or older who wish to check out materials, access the Internet on public computers or get account information will be required to present their Library Card, or show a valid photo ID. As an alternative, a library staff member must be able to verify their identity.
• Return borrowed items to any Library, the bookmobile or Price Cutter Plus Book Stop, 3260 East Battlefield, Springfield.
• Report lost or stolen cards promptly.
• First-time checkout limit is three items. After that, the limit is 50 items per card; three toys may be checked out at a time.
• You may renew items for two additional loan periods if no one else has requested them. High priority items (those in great demand) may not be renewed.
• Renew items in person, via phone or online.
• If you have more than three items overdue, or owe more than $10 in fines, fees or charges, you will not be allowed to check out additional items. If you owe $50 or more in fines or fees, you will be blocked from using the computers. Those with items 55 days overdue will be submitted to a collection agency and subject to an additional $15 charge.

Children's Library Cards

• Teens and children 17 years old and younger unaccompanied by a parent may register for a Library Card if they can complete a registration form with their name, address, phone number, birthday and parents' names.
• The child will be able to check out three books at a time until the responsibility statement on the back of the card is signed by a parent, guardian or other adult willing to assume responsibility for items checked out on the card and fines or charges that may accrue.

Student Library Cards

• College, vocational or university students living in Greene County in campus housing, but with a permanent residence outside of Greene County, may be issued a Student Library Card. These cards expire each year on May 31.
• Students who reside off campus, but in Greene County, can obtain a regular Library Card. Students who commute from outside Greene County must purchase a Non-resident Library Card.

Company Library Cards

• To make it easy for employees to use Library services, businesses are encouraged to apply for Company Library Cards.
• Company Library Cards are issued for one year in a company's name and mailed to the company address, in care of the company president, who is responsible for materials checked out on Company Library Cards.
• To apply for a Company Library Card, complete an application (pdf) online or at any Library branch, and submit it with a request on company letterhead, signed by the company president.

Three Ways for Non-Residents to Use the Library

Greene County taxpayers* pay, on average, $50 per year in property taxes to support the Springfield-Greene County Library District. Greene County business owners and homeowners pay approximately 25 cents per $100 assessed valuation to support the Library. Here are three ways for non-residents of Greene County to use the Library.

• Pay the $50 annual fee for you and your family who live in the same residence to become Library Cardholders and enjoy all the checkout privileges, computers and services of county residents.
• Pay $15 and receive a three-month Visitor's Library Card which includes computer use and checkout privileges.
• Pay $1 each day for a Non-resident Computer Pass which allows one person to use a Library computer to access the Internet for two one-hour periods per day.

* Those who live in another county, but own property or rent business real estate in Greene County, are exempt from paying the $50 fee. A property tax receipt, lease or rental agreement is required at the time a Library Card is requested.