Getting a library card is FREE and easy! Just stop in or apply online by completing this form to begin the process.
All you need is:
- a valid photo ID (i.e., PA Driver’s License) with your current address
OR—if you recently moved and the address on your license is not yet updated, you need:
- 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.
There is no minimum age to apply for a library card. Applicants who are under 18 will need to have a parent or guardian email and/or present their ID in person in order to be issued a card.
If you live in Emmaus Borough, Macungie Borough, or Upper Milford Township, we are your ‘home’ library. We can also issue you a card if you live in an area serviced by any of the other LCLC (Lehigh Carbon Library Cooperative) libraries, as we now use one common card.
Residents of other PA municipalities may also obtain borrowing privileges by showing their local public library card with an ACCESS PA sticker/logo and providing identification as indicated above. Membership in their local library must be up to date and in good standing.
Residents within Lehigh and Carbon County who are not served by a state-aided library and who have no home library of their own can apply for a non-resident card at a cost of $40/year per household. The non-resident library card does not have Access PA privileges.
To access your account online, click on My Account and enter your 14-digit library card number (no spaces) and 4-digit PIN (usually the last four digits of your primary phone number). If you’re unable to log in, please stop in or contact us and have your card number handy so we can set up your PIN.
From your online account, you’ll be able to view a list of items currently checked out and their due dates. You can also renew items, place holds for items, and more.
Your 4-digit PIN is usually the last four digits of your primary phone number. If you’re having trouble with your PIN, please stop in or contact us and have your card number handy so we can set up or reset your PIN.
Your card expires every three years,* but should not be thrown out — we’ll just need to update your record! If you lose your card, you can get a replacement for $2.
*If you received your card in the mail through an online application without visiting the library, your card will expire after one year and you will need to renew it in person the first time. After that, your card will be good for three years.
While library cards are individual and can only be used by the person to whom the card is issued, you can designate other persons to check out items, place holds, or pick up reserved materials by notifying a staff member in person. This authorization will be specifically noted in your account.
Cardholders are responsible for all materials checked out on their library card and on the cards of minor children for whom they have assumed responsibility on a library card application.
In general, you may borrow as many items as you want to be responsible for within the limits shown below, and most items circulate for three weeks (see table below).
| Material Type | Limit | Loan Period |
|---|---|---|
| Books | 50 on adult cards; 20 on juvenile cards. We kindly ask that you don’t borrow more than 5 books by a single author, in a series, or on any one subject. | 3 Weeks; 2 renewals |
| NEW Books | See ‘Books’ above. | 2 Weeks; 2 renewals |
| Juvenile Holiday Books | 10 | 2 Weeks; 2 renewals |
| Magazines | Same as ‘Books’ above; back issues only. | 3 Weeks; 2 renewals |
| Audiobooks | Same as ‘Books’ above. | 3 Weeks; 2 renewals |
| DVDs | 7 total (including 5 ‘new’) | 1 Week; 2 renewals |
| DVD series | See ‘DVDs’ above | 2 Weeks; 2 renewals |
| Interlibrary Loans | 5 requests per month | Varies; set by lending library |
| Hotspots | 1 / Household | 1 Week; 2 renewals |
| Museum Passes | 1 / Card | 1 Week; no renewals |
| Puzzles | 1 / Card | 3 Weeks; 2 renewals |
| Board Games | 1 / Card | 1 week; 2 renewals |
| Library of Things | 1 / Card | 1 week; 2 renewals |
Yes, you can save time by reserving items (also known as ‘placing a hold’) for quick pick-up at the desk— or request items from more than 20 other area libraries and have them sent here in as little as 1-2 days. Please note that some ‘new’ items must be picked up directly at the lending library.
You can place holds through your online account by using the steps below or contact us with the title(s) you want and your card number, and we’ll be happy to request items for you.
1. Go to my account and log in with your 14-digit card number and four-digit PIN (usually the last four numbers of your primary phone number).
2. Search the catalog for the item you want, making sure to select ‘Multi-District Lehigh Valley Pocono’ from the drop-down menu in the ‘Library’ field if you want your search to cover all the libraries with whom we share resources.
3. In the search results, click on the ‘Place Hold’ link located on the far right of each title. Be sure to check that it’s in the correct format (i.e., book, DVD, large print, etc.) prior to placing a hold.
4. On the next screen, select or confirm the pickup location (LEHCAR-EPL for Emmaus) and choose how you want to be notified when it arrives (email, text and/or phone).
5. Submit your request and confirm that it was successful. Please note that some ‘New’ items can only be reserved for pick-up at the holding library.
6. When your item arrives, you’ll be notified by your chosen method(s) and you’ll have four days to pick it up. If the item is not picked up, it will either be returned or checked out to the next person on the list.
Items that are not available through our online catalog may be available from another PA library through inter-library loan (ILL). ILL requests must be placed through your ‘home’ library. If we are your ‘home’ library, stop in or contact us to place a request for you. Please note that ILL items may take up to 2 weeks to arrive.
Most items can be renewed up to 2 times. Exceptions include items on hold for another patron, some special collections and devices, and some LCLC materials from other libraries.
Eligible items are automatically renewed on their due date, and will generate a notification based on your account preferences. You may also renew items from your online account or contact us to request a renewal. Please note that you must have your library card number to renew items by phone.
Renewals on Inter-Library Loan (ILL) items are at the discretion of the lending library. Please contact us 5 days before the due date so we may request a renewal.
Good news! LCLC libraries no longer charge overdue fines on late items, with a few exceptions as shown below.
| Hotspots | $5.00 per day overdue fine |
| Museum Passes | $1.00 per day overdue fine |
| Interlibrary Loans | $1.00 per item / per day overdue fine |
| Interlibrary Loans that are not picked up | $1.00 fee |
You will be billed at the cost of the item plus a $3 service charge. Damages are assessed for items that require repair or replacement, including barcodes, cases, discs, books, and any other part of a library item. Please note that we do not accept replacements for lost or damaged items.
If you have $10 or more in fines/fees on your account, you will not be able to borrow items until your account is reconciled.
Items can be brought inside the library, deposited in our silver-color book drop in the parking lot, or dropped in the book slot on the wall near the entrance. Items can also be returned to any LCLC library or to the book drops located at the Macungie Borough and Upper Milford Township municipal buildings.
Yes, we welcome donations year-round of books, puzzles, DVDs and CDs (music or audiobooks). We especially appreciate books, DVDs and CDs released in the past year, since that allows us to offer more copies of bestsellers while they’re ‘hot’ and still stay within our budget.
Unfortunately, we can’t accept all materials and sometimes have to turn items away, so please go here to see our guidelines before you pack your car.
Yes, we have multiple computers with internet access for your use. Staff will provide assistance as time permits. Users are required to adhere to the library’s Computer User Responsibilities and Internet Access and Acceptable Use Policy. All users are responsible for damage to library hardware or software and for compliance with the library use policy.
Yes, we have black & white and color printers available for your use at a cost of $.20/page and $.50/page, respectively. You can print from our public-access computers or from your own device at the library.You can also print from home (or anywhere) by going here to upload your documents, and pick up your prints at the library within two hours.
Yes, wireless internet access is available to all library guests up to 15 minutes before closing. No library card or ID is required, though you must enter a password to connect (available at the desk and posted on signs throughout the library). Guests are expected to comply with the library’s Internet Access and Acceptable Use Policy at all times and use the network in a legal and responsible manner.
