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Hamilton Public Library

Library Cards

How to get a card and the rules

Who can get a card

All Hamilton County residents 18 and older can get a free Hamilton Public Library Card by providing a Texas ID or driver's license with current address in Hamilton County and 2 items with the same address in Hamilton County (vehicle registration, car insurance, voter's registration card, utility bill).  Applicants who reside outside of Hamilton County will be assessed an annual fee of $50.00. Special library cards are available for children. Cards are limited to one number per household. 

Download a card application. 
Spanish Application.

Temporary Card will be issued to patrons who live in Hamilton County but do not have a current Texas photo ID with a Hamilton County address and/or all supporting documents. The temporary card will be valid for 6 months only. You must be 18 years or older to apply for a library card. The required identifications are a current valid photo ID, an email address, and a cell phone number. The card will cost $20.00 and upon the return of all library materials and card, on or before the 6-month deadline, the deposit of $20.00 will be refunded to the temporary card holder. If the temporary card is held longer than 6 months, the entire deposit will be forfeited, and a New Temporary application and deposit will be required.

Download a temporary card application.

How to Get Your Card
Come fill out an application at the library. Or download and print an application to bring to the library. You must bring the three forms of identification with the application.

Borrowing Limits
New patrons are limited to 2 items on their first checkout. Once those are returned, patrons are limited to 10 items per card. Patrons are limited to 2 DVDs at a time per card. There is a limit of 2 CDs per checkout per card. These are included in the 10-item limit.

DVDs are checked out for one week. Books and CDs are checked out for two weeks.  DVDs are nonrenewable. CDs and books may be renewed once if no other user has a hold on them.  Parents are responsible for items borrowed by children.

Placing Holds
You may call the Library or request in person, and we can place a hold for you. You can place your own holds on books using the card catalog.  Log in in the top right-hand corner with your library card number and 10-digit phone number. Search for the item, and when you locate it, click the "Reserve this item" button.

The Library will contact you when the item is ready for pickup.  Please make sure we have a working phone number to contact you. We ask that you pick up the item within a week. We may release your hold if you do not pick up the item in a timely manner.

Renewing Your Borrowed Items
You may renew your items in person, online through the card catalog, or over the phone. DVDs may not be renewed, while other items may be renewed once.

To renew items using the online card catalog, login in the top right-hand corner with your library card number and 10-digit phone number. Click on "my account" in the top right-hand corner. Next, click the "Items Out / Renewals" tab to view all items checked out. Click the "Renew" button to renew the item. If the item cannot be renewed, a button will not appear.

Library Fines
If your items are overdue, your account will have a fine. 

Books are charged 25 cents for every day overdue.

Audio-visual materials (DVDs, and CDs) are charged $1.00 for every day overdue.

If your account has a fine, you will not be allowed to check out more items or use the computers in the library.

A book drop with outdoor access is available for return items 24-7.  While we are open, we ask that you return materials inside the Library.

Borrowers must pay for or replace all damaged or lost materials. If you have damaged or lost materials, you will not be allowed to check out more items or use the computers in the library.

Interlibrary Loans

Hamilton Public Library users are eligible to borrow through the Interlibrary Loan Program after they are active members in good standing with the library for six months.

If you do not find an item at the Hamilton Public Library, you can request that the item be sent to us from another library.  We will search the network and try to locate the book for you.  The lending library sends the book to the Hamilton Public Library where you can pick it up. A fee of $3.00 will be assessed to cover the return postage, whether the item is picked up or not. You can make up to three interlibrary loan requests at a time.

Revised 2/22/2024