Every September, the American Library Association (ALA) encourages everyone
to join their local library and explore all the great things their free membership offers.
Go here to find out more
Okay, we might be just a wee bit biased, but we believe everybody should have a library card!
It opens so many doors to learning, entertainment, making connections and more, that we wonder why everybody doesn’t already have one. From saving a bundle by borrowing books and videos, to museum passes and mobile hotspots, to a large digital library that never closes, there’s something for everyone, and it’s free!
That’s why we love September (a.k.a., library card sign-up month), when we encourage everyone to sign up and start enjoying the perks of belonging to the library. This year, we’re celebrating a couple of ways…
Even kids younger than 5 can get their very own card now, which enables them to borrow up to 20 books from the children’s collection. And, when they get their bright-yellow ‘first card’ through the end of the month, they’ll also take home a cute rubber duck to match from Miss Sue’s big and varied collection of characters.
Adults can play bingo by completing library-related activities this month.
Go here to download the card, then complete a row in any direction for BINGO, and stop at the library by Sept. 30 to pick out a small prize.
It’s a fun way to celebrate and possibly discover a new library perk or service you’ve never used before.
If you have friends, neighbors, co-workers or relatives in the area who don’t yet know how much there is to discover at the library, share the wealth!
Tell them they can even apply online to start using our digital services as soon as their application is processed, with their library card arriving in the mail shortly after. All the details can be found below…
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Getting a library card is FREE and easy — and now you can apply online — by simply completing this form to begin the process!
A staff member will reach out via email to obtain any missing information and provide you with your new card number. You’ll be able to start accessing eBooks, eAudiobooks and digital services — sometimes the very same day. Your library card will arrive in the mail shortly after, enabling you to check out physical items at the library.
Your library card also gives you borrowing privileges at 11 other area libraries in the Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative (LCLC), as well as many other libraries in PA through the AccessPA program.
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If you live in Emmaus Borough, Macungie Borough or Upper Milford Township, the Emmaus Public Library is your ‘home’ library and we’ll be happy to issue you and your family members a library card. There is no minimum age required.*
All you need is …
- a valid photo ID (i.e., PA Driver’s License) that has your current address
OR — if you recently moved and the address on your license is not yet updated, bring —
- a valid photo ID (i.e., driver’s license with your old address) AND
- proof of residency, such as a utility bill, cable bill, lease agreement, etc., with your new address on it.
* Please note: Patrons under 18 applying for a card will need to have a parent or guardian email and/or present their ID in person in order to get their card.
We can also issue you a card if you live in an area serviced by any of the other LCLC libraries. They are: Catasauqua, Coplay, Dimmick, Lehighton, Lower Macungie, Palmerton, Parkland, Penn-Kidder, Slatington, Southern Lehigh and Whitehall. We all use one common ‘SHARE’ card that’s good at all of these libraries and gives you one account to make keeping track of your library loans easier.
If your home library is Allentown (or any other ‘AccessPA’ library in the state), you can still sign up for LCLC borrowing privileges as well, so long as you have a current card from your home library and your account there is in good standing. Just bring in the card from that library — along and your photo ID/proof of residency as stated above — and we’ll add our barcode to your card so you can use all of the LCLC libraries too.
Have questions? Give us a call at 610-965-9284 or stop in today. You can also read more about our policies and circulation on our website.
