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Applying for a Library Card
Whether you live, work, own property, or attend school in the City of New Brunswick, you may apply for a library card without charge. If you work, own property, or attend school in New Brunswick, but do not live in New Brunswick, it is recommended you use your hometown library card if New Brunswick Free Public Library has a borrowing agreement with that library. If the above does not apply to you, you can still apply for a library card for an annual fee.
COVID-19 update: During this time, the following procedures for library card applications and renewals are in place:
- If you need a new library card to check out materials from our door-side pickup or use our online resources, use our new library card application form
- If you need a virtual library card that can only be used to access our online resources, call us at 732-745-5108 x25 or send us an email (nbfplcirc@lmxac.org) with:
- The subject: "Virtual Library Card Request".
- The message: Your full name, home address, and your phone number.
- If you need to renew your library card, send us an email (nbfplcirc@lmxac.org) with:
- The subject: "Library card renewal".
- The message: Your full name and your phone number.
- Photo of the number on the back of your library card.
- Photo of your ID showing your current address.
The above procedures are in effect as of August 2020 and until further notice. The rest of this page has not been changed. Some services described below may not be currently available.
To apply for a library card, you must have two valid proofs of identification, at least one showing your current address. Examples of valid ID include, but are not limited to, the following:
- County ID
- Credit card statement
- Bank statement or check
- Lease
- Utility bill
- NJ driver's license
If you are a non-resident applying for a free card, you must show proof that you work or go to school in New Brunswick, such as a work or student ID, or a letter on company or school letterhead. Non-resident cards are usually not honored in other libraries.
Lost or stolen library cards should be reported at once. A nominal fee is charged for a replacement card.
Library cards will expire and must be renewed. Also, please update the library with any changes to your address and phone number. The full Circulation and Registration Policy is here.
Rewards of a Library Card
Our library card gives you full access to the services of this library. You may borrow books, magazines, videos, audio books, and other materials, as well as access our Online Resources. The librarians in the Reference Room and Children's Room are available to help you find the material or information you want.
Our library cards can be used in other libraries, such as the Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium (LMxAC), Raritan Valley Federation of Municipal Libraries (RVF), Middlesex Union Reciprocal Associated Libraries (MURAL), or an Open Borrowing Participating Library. To find out if a library is included in one of these organizations, check the reciprocal libraries tab at the top of this page.
Our relationship with other libraries is fairly straightforward. As long as our library patrons can use our card in a particular library, then that library's card will be accepted here as well. If a library restricts privileges to New Brunswick residents in their library, then we will have their similar privileges restricted to that library's patrons.
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Reciprocal Libraries
The New Brunswick Free Public Library's card can be used in any of the following member libraries. We also accept library cards from these libraries here.
Libraries of Middlesex Consortium (LMXAC)
- Carteret Public Library
- Dunellen Public Library
- East Brunswick Public Library
- Edison Public Library
- Elizabeth Public Library
- Jamesburg Public Library
- Kenilworth Public Library
- Keyport Public Library
- Long Branch Public Library
- Matawan Aberdeen Public Library
- Metuchen Public Library
- Middlesex County College Library
- Middlesex Public Library
- Milltown Public Library
- Monroe Township Public Library
- North Brunswick Public Library
- Old Bridge Public Library
- Perth Amboy Public Library
- Piscataway Public Library
- Plainfield Public Library
- Plainsboro Public Library
- Red Bank Public Library
- Roselle Public Library
- Roselle Park Veterans Memorial Library
- Sayreville Public Library
- South Amboy - Sadie Pope Dowdell Public Library
- South Brunswick Public Library
- South Plainfield Public Library
- South River Public Library
- Spotswood Public Library
- Springfield Free Public Library
Middlesex Union Reciprocal Associated Libraries (MURAL)
- Berkeley Heights Public Library
- Clark Public Library
- Cranbury Public Library
- Cranford Public Library
- Fanwood Memorial Library
- Garwood Public Library
- Highland Park Public Library
- Hillside Public Library
- Linden Free Public Library
- Mountainside Public Library
- New Providence Public Library
- Rahway Public Library
- Scotch Plains Public Library
- South Plainfield Public Library
- Summit Free Public Library
- Union Free Public Library
- Westfield Memorial Library
- Woodbridge Public Library
Raritan Valley Federation of Libraries (RVF)
- Bernards Township Library
- Bernardsville Library
- Clarence Dillon Library (Bedminster & Far Hills)
- Franklin Township Library
- Raritan Library
Some LMxAC libraries are also in MURAL and/or RVF, but were not listed more than once here.
For more information on Open Borrowing, click here.