Free Library Cards are available to residents of Mecklenburg County, and to those who live outside of Mecklenburg County but are Mecklenburg County property owners. Non-residents of Mecklenburg County can obtain a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card for an annual fee. Your Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Card gives you access to digital materials, resources, and physical items from any of our library locations.
Before You Apply
1) Contact us to see if you already have a library account
- Call your local library branch
- Send us an email
- Reach out to Library Chat
2) If you have lost your card or account number, see our Current Cardholder page.
3) Are you a student under the age of 18?
- All students enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and some private and charter schools, have free library accounts through our ONE Access program. Please contact your school to see if you are eligible for this access.
4) Some municipal and school employees have automatic access to online resources using their employee id number. Partners include Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees, Mecklenburg County employees, and others. Please contact your organization to see if you are eligible for this access.
Apply for a Library Card
To apply for a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card, adults age 18 or over must provide a valid photo ID and current proof of residency or property ownership in Mecklenburg County. Non-residents of Mecklenburg County can obtain a Charlotte Mecklenburg Library card for an annual fee, which is approximately equal to the annual property tax a Mecklenburg County resident pays to support the Library.
*Please note that international requests and payments cannot be processed.
Adults age 18 or over have the following options to apply for a library card:
- Physical Card (requires visiting a branch)
- Virtual Library Card (for Adults age 18 or over)
- Submit your application using the form on this page.
- Requires that you upload a valid photo ID and proof of current residency or property ownership in Mecklenburg County.
- Gives you instant access to all of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's online resources until your virtual library card application has been processed by library staff.
- If your library card application and documentation meet the requirements, your card will be updated to a full-service account that can be used to access the Library’s digital materials and resources, to place holds, and check out physical items from any branch.
- If you would like to check on the status of your account being updated to a full-service account to place holds and check out physical items, please call us during normal operating hours at (704) 416-0101.
- College students actively attending school in Mecklenburg County (including virtual students).
- Submit your application using the form on this page.
- Requires that you upload a photo ID (driver’s license or student ID) and proof of address or proof of current enrollment at UNC Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College, Johnson C. Smith University, Johnson & Wales and Queens University.
Here are the items we’ll accept for proof of address or proof of enrollment (in addition to the picture ID requirement):
- a postmarked piece of mail addressed to you at your local address
- a utility bill with your name and local address
- a tuition statement (listing your name) for this semester
- a class schedule (listing your name) for this semester
Students that qualify for a free card with proof of enrollment will need to show proof of enrollment every year to renew their library card. Students that qualify with a local address will not need to renew their card for 3 years.
- Non-Resident Card (if you do not currently live in or own property in Mecklenburg County)
- Submit your application using the form on this page.
- The $45 non-resident fee is a one-time-per-year charge per household.
- The annual non-resident fee for adults 62 years and older is $35.
- No fee is charged to non-residents who own property in Mecklenburg County.
- No fee is charged to non-residents who are students (of any age) enrolled in any private or public school in Mecklenburg County. Send us an email for more information.
- Entitles you to the full services of the Library at all locations and use of our online resources.
- Teacher Loan Card (requires visiting a branch)
- Teachers who are employed by an educational institution in Mecklenburg County (religious, public and private schools, certified home-schools, licensed child-care providers, recreational leaders, student teachers, etc.)
- Requires confirmation of eligibility.
- For full information visit the Teacher Loan Card page.
Youth under the age of 18 have the following options to apply for a library card:
- Physical Card (requires visiting a branch)
- Youth applying for the card must be present.
- A parent/guardian responsible for the youth must be present and provide a photo ID and proof of current Mecklenburg County residence or property ownership.
- ONE Access
- All students enrolled in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and some private and charter schools, have free library accounts through our ONE Access program.
- Homeschool students may request a ONE Access account application by contacting Library Chat, a library branch or by email.
- Some local universities have partnered to allow their students integrated access to the Library’s electronic resources.
If you need assistance with your library card application or have questions about eligibility, please call (704) 416-0101.
Submit your Library Card Application
If you would like to apply for a Virtual Library Card or Non-resident Card, please complete the form below. You must attach a valid photo ID and current proof of residency.
Acceptable valid photo ID:
- North Carolina Driver License
- North Carolina State ID card
- Non-North Carolina State issued Driver License or ID
- Passport
- Military ID
- Government Issued ID with an identifying number
*No personal photos or selfies will be accepted. *
Acceptable proof of current residency:
- North Carolina Driver license
- North Carolina State ID card
- Official rent receipt, rental agreement, contract, or lease
- Personalized check, bank or credit union statement
- Utility deposit receipt or utility bill from the last 30 days
- Credit card bill from the past 30 days
- Current voter registration card
- Current vehicle registration or liability insurance
- Mail postmarked within the last 30 days
Once you have completed the form, you will receive an email with your account information. This is an ecard account (instant access to all of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's online resources) until your virtual library card application has been processed by library staff (may take up to 5 business days).
After your card has been processed, you will have a full-service account that can be used to access all digital materials and resources, to place holds and check out physical items from any branch.