Discover what your library card can do for you! Explore different library card types based on where you live, age and how you like to access materials. And then navigate your options for checking out materials, like loan rules, holds and more!
Get a Library Card
Find a location or apply online to get started!
Explore Library Card Types
Depending on your eligibility, you will receive one of the following physical or digital library card types.
Physical Library Cards
If you are 17 or older, you can visit any of our full-service locations with a current photo ID to get a wallet card and a keychain card. Minors need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian with their current photo ID. Your ID doesn't need to list your Colorado address, but you must have an address in Colorado.
Acceptable forms of ID for adults include driver's license, ID card, digital ID in the MyColorado app, passport, military ID, matricula consular card, university ID or school ID.
Full Access Resident Card
- Jefferson County residents, 17 years or older
- Apply in person, with photo ID
- Access to all library services
- Expires after three years of inactivity
Colorado Library Card
- Colorado residents outside of Jefferson County, 17 years or older
- Apply in person, with photo ID
- Access to all library services except:
- Hoopla and Kanopy streaming services
- Chromebook laptops and mobile hotspots
- Booking the Create Space and Digital Media Studio
- Expires after three years of inactivity
Minor Library Card
- Jefferson County or Colorado residents, 16 years or younger
- Apply in person, with parent/guardian and their photo ID
- Access to all library services except:
- Children 12 years or younger cannot create their account username and cannot post comments in online catalog.
- Children 13 years or younger cannot book the Create Space or Digital Media Studio.
- Expires after three years of inactivity
Digital Library Cards
When you apply online, you receive the library card number via email, based on your eligibility. There's no need to visit a library unless you would like a wallet and keychain card.
Digital Resident Library Card
- Jefferson County residents, 17 years or older
- Apply online and successfully complete residency and identity verification
- Access to all library services except:
- Chromebook laptops and mobile hotspots
- Prospector borrowing
- Expires after three years of inactivity
Digital Colorado Library Card
- Colorado residents outside of Jefferson County, 17 years or older
- Apply online and successfully complete residency and identity verification
- Access to all library services except:
- Hoopla and Kanopy streaming services
- Chromebook laptops and mobile hotspots
- Prospector borrowing
- Booking the Create Space or Digital Media Studio
- Expires after three years of inactivity
Digital Temporary Library Card
If your name and address cannot be verified, or if you are 16 or younger, you will be issued a Digital Temporary Library Card. This card allows access to some online resources, but not Hoopla and Kanopy, and allows you to place 5 holds. It does not allow you to check out physical items, does not work to pick up holds at Holds Lockers and it expires in three weeks. Convert your temporary card to a permanent card by visiting a full-service location before the expiration date.
Institutional Library Cards
Educators can request an institutional library card or a set of computer-use only cards for their classrooms. Please use our Student Support Request form to contact us about these options.
Loan Rules
Learn about what types of materials are holdable and renewable, how long they check out and whether limits apply.
Standard Items
Most materials in our collection check out for 7 or 21 days, can be placed on hold, are subject to a 200 item limit and will auto-renew 12 times if there are no holds.
| Item Type | Holdable | Loan Period | Checkout and Hold Limits | Renewable |
| Books
Books on CD Nonfiction DVDs & TV Shows Playaways |
Yes | 21 days | 200 checkouts and 200 holds at a time
|
Will auto-renew 12 times, if no holds |
| Movies (DVDs)
Music CDs |
Yes | 7 days | 200 checkouts and 200 holds at a time | Will auto-renew 12 times, if no holds |
Lucky Day and Lending & Express
Materials in our Lucky Day and Lending & Express collections check out for 7 or 21 days, cannot be placed on hold, and are subject to different limits and renewal capabilities.
| Item Type | Holdable | Loan Period | Checkout Limit | Renewable |
| Lucky Day Books
Lucky Day Movies (DVDs) |
No | Books: 21 days
Movies: 7 Days |
3 Lucky Day items at a time | No |
| Lending & Express Books
Lending & Express Movies (DVDs) |
No | Books: 21 days
Movies: 7 Days |
200 items at a time | Will auto-renew 1 time |
Other Materials
Some types of materials have irregular loan rules. See Card Types for access restrictions.
| Item Type |
Holdable | Loan Period | Checkout and Hold Limits | Renewable |
| Magazines | Yes | 7 days | 6 Launchpads and magazines checked out at a time, 200 holds at a time | No |
| Prospector Loans | Yes, but cannot be picked up at Holds Lockers. | 7 - 21 days | 60 items at a time (checkouts and holds) | Print items: usually 1 time, if no holds DVDs/CDs: No |
| Interlibrary Loans | Yes | 7 - 21 days | 60 items at a time (checkouts and holds) | No |
| Launchpads | Yes | 21 days | 6 Launchpads and magazines checked out at a time, 200 holds at a time | Will auto-renew 12 times, if no holds |
| Mobile Hotspots | Yes | 7 days | 1 laptop or 1 hotspot at a time (checkouts and holds) | Can manually renew 3 times, if no holds |
| Chromebook Laptop | Yes | 60 days | 1 laptop or 1 hotspot at a time (checkouts and holds) | No |
| Power Meters | Yes | 21 days | 200 checkouts and 200 holds at a time | Will auto-renew 12 times, if no holds |
| Culture Passes | Yes | n/a | 2 per month | No |
E-Content / Digital
Loan rules vary for E-Books, Downloadable Audiobooks, Magazines, Streaming Movies and TV, Streaming Music. You have three days to check out holdable items once they are ready for you. See Card Types for access restrictions.
| Item Type & Vendor |
Holdable | Loan Period | Checkout and Hold Limits | Renewable |
| E-Books from Boundless | Yes | 21 days | 99 checkouts & 70 holds | Yes, if no holds |
| E-Books from Libby | Yes | 21 days | 40 checkouts & 40 holds | Yes, if no holds |
| E-Books from Hoopla | No. Collection is always available. | 21 days | 10 loans/month in Hoopla (any format) | No, but can borrow again immediately |
| Downloadable audiobooks from Boundless | Yes | 21 days | 99 checkouts & 70 holds | Yes, if no holds |
| Streaming audiobooks from Hoopla | No. Collection is always available. | 21 days | 10 loans/month in Hoopla (any format) | No, but can borrow again immediately |
| Magazines from Libby | No. Collection is always available. | 21 days | Unlimited | No, but can borrow again immediately |
| Magazines from Flipster | No. Collection is always available. | 2 days or 7 days | Unlimited | No, but can borrow again immediately |
| Streaming video from Hoopla | No. Collection is always available. | 3 days | 10 loans/month in Hoopla (any format) | No, but can borrow again immediately |
| Streaming video from Kanopy | No. Collection is always available. | Varies by title | 27 tickets/month | No, but can borrow again immediately |
| Streaming music from Hoopla | No. Collection is always available. | 7 days | 10 loans/month in Hoopla (any format) | No, but can borrow again immediately |
| Streaming music from Freegal+ | No. Collection is always available. | n/a | Unlimited streaming & 3 downloads/week | n/a |
Fines, Fees & Privacy
Fines & Fees
We do not charge overdue fines. If an item is more than 28 days overdue, a replacement fee will automatically be charged to your account. Once the items are returned, the replacement fee will be removed.
If you have lost or damaged a book, please let us know and visit a full-service location to pay the replacement fee. Please do not purchase a copy on your own as a replacement. If you find a lost book after paying the replacement fee, you may bring it into one of our full-service locations and receive a refund.
Your Privacy
To ensure the privacy of your library account information, please bring your JCPL card or account number when checking items out. Account numbers are also required when checking items out for family members or friends, and for parents needing access to their child’s account.
A government-issued photo ID can be used as proof of identity if you don't have your account number or have lost your card. Holds can be checked out only to the JCPL card number that was used to place the hold.
In the event of a lost or stolen card, please visit any of our full-service locations or contact us to let us know. Learn more about our privacy and confidentiality policies.
Library Policies
There are several policies, procedures and guidelines that govern use of the library and aspects of library services, including the Library Code of Conduct. We ask that when using library spaces and services, you follow these norms to help make the library a warm, welcoming and safe place for everyone to enjoy.
