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All City Libraries observe the following annual holidays: New Year's Day * In 2025, Juneteenth will be observed on Monday, June 16. |
The City Library only gets better through the feedback we receive from the people who use our services. Please let us know your thoughts by filling out our Online Contact Form. |
Are you looking for a book, CD, DVD, or other item that The City Library doesn't own? The City Library accepts suggestions for items that have already been released and are not found in the library catalog. Click Here to fill out and submit the "Suggest an Item for Purchase" form. |
All residents of Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County can sign up for a City Library Card free of charge. To get a Library Card, you must attach the following documents to the library card application or bring the following to any City Library location: Evidence of Identity, such as:
Evidence of Salt Lake City residence, such as:
Patrons under the age of 18 must obtain a parent's or legal guardian's consent. Click Here to access the Library Card Application for a Borrower Under the Age of 18 [PDF], available in both English and Spanish. |
The City Library offers several types of library cards based on your address and check-out needs. You may only have one card at any given time. (See "How do I get a library card?" for requirements.) BASIC CARD You may check out up to 13 total items. Within that limit, you may check out a total of 1 Lucky Day item, 1 Blu-ray, 3 DVDs, and 3 CDs (including Music CDs, and Language Learning Resources). A Basic card does not expire. Official proof of residency in Salt Lake County is required for a Basic Card. A Basic card is a good option for people who wish to limit the amount of items they are responsible for. Parents can select this option for their children. Click Here to access the Library Card Application for a Borrower Under the Age of 18 [PDF], available in both English and Spanish. EXPANDED CARD You may check out up to 100 total items. Within that limit, you may check out a total of 20 DVDs or Blu-rays, 90 Music CDs, 10 Language Learning Sets, and 1 Lucky Day item. An Expanded card does not expire. Official proof of residency in Salt Lake County is required for an Expanded Card. ORGANIZATIONAL CARD Businesses, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies within the legal boundaries of Salt Lake City may apply for an Organizational card with The City Library. These groups agree to be responsible for all items checked out by anyone using the card. An Organizational card is a good option for businesses whose employees live outside Salt Lake County but wish to check out City Library materials. Applications are available at all City Library locations. INTERNET CARD An Internet card allows you to use The City Library's public computers but does not allow you to check out materials. Anyone can get an Internet card, regardless of address. An Internet card is a good option for people visiting Salt Lake City or for residents who don't wish to be responsible for library materials. |
A PIN is a four digit personal identification number. It is a security code for using your library card online, and it is necessary to enter when logging into any of our public PCs or your library account online. If you received your library card before December 15, 2011 then your default PIN number should be the last 4 digits of the phone number you have on record with the library. If you received your card after December 27, 2011 you should have been asked to supply a PIN at the time you signed up for your card. If you don't have a PIN, or don't remember what it is, call 801-524-8200 with your library card number and birth date ready, or come in to any City Library location with your library card or valid photo ID. |
If the item you want from the City Library's collection is checked out, you can claim a spot in line to check out the item by placing a hold. Holds can also be placed on items that are currently available—our staff will locate the item for you and have it waiting for you on the Hold shelf at your preferred City Library location. Holds may be placed through our online catalog, through our mobile app, or by speaking to a library staff member. When the item is ready for you to pick up, you will receive an email or text message notification. Items not picked up within seven days of notification will be reshelved. Patrons with Expanded cards may place up to 90 items on hold, and patrons with Basic cards may place up to 5 items on hold. |
Items will be automatically renewed up to three times, unless your item is on hold for another patron. Each auto-renewal gives you an additional full loan period, and we'll notify you of the new, extended due date via email. Be aware that items that have already been renewed three times will not be renewed. Any items with a hold placed by another patron will not be renewed. In addition, items in the Lucky Day Collection cannot be renewed. (See "How long do my items check out for (i.e., loan periods)?" for more information about loan periods.) The auto-renewal process will start three days before an item is due. On that date, the item will be automatically renewed if there are any remaining loan periods available. The additional loan period will start the day the item was originally due, even though the renewal occurred three days prior to this. |
MOST ITEMS CHECK OUT FOR 21 DAYS:
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Feeling lucky? Drop into any City Library location and check out something from the Lucky Day Collection! The Library sets aside few copies of our most popular items so they're ready for you to pick up when you walk through our doors. You can't place Lucky Day items on hold or view the Lucky Day Collection through our online catalog—you can only get them by dropping by! To keep the collection fresh, Lucky Day items check out for 7 days and cannot be renewed. |
The City Library can send you an email (or SMS text message alert, if you prefer) a couple days before your items are due. You can modify your Contact Preferences by logging into your Library Patron account and updating the "Contact Information and Preferences" section, or by speaking with a librarian at any City Library location. You can change/update the email address in your patron account at any time. |
The City Library subscribes to Library Elf, a virtual assistant that helps busy library users keep track of when their items are due and when their holds are ready to pick up. A perfect solution for families with multiple library cards, Library Elf allows users to consolidate their accounts to see all the materials checked out, due, and on hold on several cards. Library Elf keeps you connected with text messages, emails, or RSS alerts when your items are due or when your holds are ready to pick up (or about to expire). To learn more about Library Elf, visit libraryelf.com. The City Library subscribes to Library Elf, so anyone with a City Library card can take advantage of premium services free of charge. To sign up, click here. Note that as of July 1, 2017, the Library implemented an automatic renewal policy. Whereas Library Elf used to automatically renew all City Library items that were eligible, this feature discontinued for City Library cardholders effective July 1, 2017. |
Any items checked out from a City Library may be returned to any City Library location. Book drops are located at all City Library locations as a convenience for patrons to return materials. The City Library is not responsible for items left in book drops. The City Library does not accept returns of Salt Lake County Library materials, and the Salt Lake County Library does not accept returns of City Library materials. |
AS OF JULY 1, 2017, THE CITY LIBRARY NO LONGER CHARGES OVERDUE FINES. FEES
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Over the course of being a City Library user, you may end up damaging or losing a book, CD, or DVD. We understand that accidents happen to all of us. If you lose or damage an item checked out on your library card, you will be charged the replacement cost for the item, plus a $3 processing fee. Please call The City Library (801-524-8200) or talk to a librarian at any City Library location to report the item lost or damaged. You can pay your fees at any City Library location. If you find an item that you have already paid the replacement cost for, you may receive a refund of all but the processing fee. |
When any DVD or CD is returned to The City Library, we check the case to make sure that the discs are undamaged and in the correct case. If you forgot to include the disc in the case, please bring the disc to any City Library location, and we will see that the disc is put in the correct case. If the disc is returned undamaged and by its due date, there will be no fees. |
There are a few situations where your library card will no longer be able to place holds, check out items, use the online resource databases, or other functions. To find out the specific reason your card may not be working, please contact The City Library at 801-524-8200 or visit any City Library location. Possible causes for your card not working:
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Let us know in person at any City Library location, by calling us at 801-524-8200, or by using our Online Contact Form. |
If you have lost your library card, please contact The City Library right away. You can call us at 801-524-8200 or walk in to any City Library location. You are responsible for all materials checked out on your library card, so treat it as you would a credit card. Once the lost card is cancelled, a new card may be obtained with photo ID. |
If you live outside of Salt Lake County, you may purchase a City Library card for $80.00 per year ($20 for three months; $10 for one month). The purchase of a non-county card allows any other residents of your household to also receive a card. All other rules for obtaining a City Library card apply to those living outside Salt Lake County. |
Yes, you will need to present your property tax statement and the card will expire annually for updated proof of property ownership. All other rules for obtaining a card will apply. |
Children attending Salt Lake City schools (K–12) may obtain a City Library card for free. Proof of attendance must be provided annually. In this case, free cards are only available to students; those living outside Salt Lake County who aren't K-12 students can purchase a City Library card for $80 per year. (See "Can I get a library card if I don't live in Salt Lake City?" for full information.) |
The City Library offers meeting rooms for community use at all locations. To use a meeting room at one of our branch locations, please request a room using our Online Interactive Calendar, which shows room availability in real-time. Your Meeting Room request is pending until you receive confirmation from our staff. If you have questions or need additional assistance, please contact the branch where you wish to meet. To reserve a meeting room at the Main Library, please visit our Meeting Room Reservation page to submit your application. |
The Salt Lake City Public Library provides exam proctoring services in support of lifelong learning goals. This service is provided as a courtesy to patrons and is subject to the availability of staff to administer the examination. The City Library may refer students to other institutions that provide proctoring service when conditions cannot be met or a library staff person is not available to provide this service. Limitations
Scheduling
It is the student's responsibility to verify that the requirements of the educational institution can be followed before arranging to have the test mailed. Staff will only sign proctoring verifications when the conditions were met. Tests that are mailed to The City Library should be addressed to the individual staff member who has agreed to proctor the test. It is the student's responsibility to contact the institution mailing the test and provide the name of the proctor. The student is responsible for calling The City Library to verify that the test has arrived. The student must speak to the staff person who has agreed to be the proctor and schedule a time to take the test. Students must schedule adequate time to finish the test at least 30 minutes prior to Library closing. The Library is not responsible for tests that are incomplete for any reason, including emergency evacuation or early closure of the Library building. The City Library does not guarantee quiet rooms for examinations. It is the student's responsibility to schedule one of the Library’s meeting rooms for the amount of time needed to take the test. The City Library cannot provide continuous monitoring of students during an exam.Day of the Exam After the Exam |
The City Library's Creative Lab provides a space with dedicated equipment and software to create, edit, and convert digital media projects including, but not limited to, video, audio, photography, and 3D modeling. The Creative Lab is located adjacent to the Main Library Technology Center. For general computing activities such as word processing, web browsing, email, social networking, or printing, please use the computers available in the Technology Center or computers located on other floors of the Main Library. |
Salt Lake City Public Library users can now submit 3D print requests to be printed on one of the Creative Lab's 3D printers. Please visit slcpl.org/3dprinting for details on submitting a 3D print request. |
Salt Lake City Public Library patrons can reserve time to utilize the Glowforge Aura, which allows users to cut, score, and engrave Diode laser-compatible materials. For example, patrons can build acrylic lamps, engrave photographs on wood, craft custom leather wallets, and more. |
All City Library locations have computers for public use. All public computers have Internet access and the Microsoft Office 2013 suite of programs installed. Anyone with a City Library Card may use our public computers. If you do not have a City Library Card and do not live in Salt Lake County, you may acquire a Guest Pass at any City Library Reference Desk. Library Cards and Internet Cards entitle the cardholder to two 60-minute sessions of computer use per day, broken up into as few or as many separate computer sessions as you wish. Guest Passes entitle users to 20 minutes of computer use per session, and patrons will be allowed only one Guest Pass per day. The City Library uses a reservation system to ensure equitable use of our public computers. If you approach a computer that says "Available" in green, you may use the computer right away. If the computer says "Reserved," it is not available for you to use. You may place a reservation for a computer using the Reservation and Print Release Station at any City Library location. (The Main Library has Reservation and Print Release Stations on all floors.) Once you place a reservation, you will receive a receipt identifying the computer that is reserved for you and the time it will be available. If you do not log in to the computer within five minutes of the assigned time, your reservation will be cancelled. This will count as one of your computer sessions for the day. For additional clarification on using computers at The City Library, please call us at 801-524-8200 or visit any City Library location. |
All public computers at The City Library are connected to a printer. Printing is 10¢ per page, regardless of whether the print is in black-and-white or color. Every cardholder receives $1.50 in free printing each month (15 free pages of printing per month). If you do not use your $1.50 credit in a given month, the remaining amount does not transfer to the next month. When you set a document to print, the print job is sent to the Reservation and Print Release Station in that location. To finish printing your document, you must log-in to the Print Release Station and select your item to print. Any items you do not select to print will be removed from your print queue. |
Yes, you can print wirelessly from your own mobile device to any City Library Print Release Station. If you are already at the Library, use the ePRINTit Mobile Web Portal to submit print jobs from your mobile device:
3) Select the file, document, or URL you'd like to print.
Patrons then have 24 hours to come to the Library branch of their choice to complete the print job.
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Yes, all City Library locations have a color printer which can print color documents from any public computer in the Library. Color prints are 10¢ per sheet (15 free color pages a month). |
Yes, The City Library has eight scan stations, located in the Main Library Technology Center, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Anderson-Foothill Branch, Day-Riverside Branch, Glendale Branch, and Marmalade Branch. There is no charge to scan and send documents to an email address, Google Docs, or save to a USB flash drive. The machines can also print in black and white (10¢ per page) and send faxes (no charge, with the ability to send worldwide). |
Yes, The City Library has eight print/scan/fax stations, located in the Main Library Technology Center, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Anderson-Foothill Branch, Day-Riverside Branch, Glendale Branch, and Marmalade Branch. These machines have the ability to send faxes worldwide. There is no charge for sending a fax. |
The City Library sponsors art exhibits throughout the system as a source of ideas and inspiration that support and advance our mission. Exhibits are chosen by a staff committee according to the needs and interests of the community, the variety of shows, the artistic quality of the works, and the suitability of format for each library’s physical space. Artists interested in exhibiting are invited to submit a portfolio to the City Library location where they most prefer to exhibit. Portfolios should be submitted within the two-week period prior to the following deadlines: April 10 and October 10. For full information, please visit our Art Exhibit Call for Entries page. Teen artists and art instructors, submit your or your student's portfolio to be featured at The City Library! We are always on the lookout for original art exhibitions for the Main Library's Canteena Space on Level 2, and welcome submissions year-round. For more information, please visit the Teen Art Exhibit Call for Entries page. |
The City Library accepts electronic submissions to our semi-annual Art Exhibit Call for Entries. Part of the electronic submission is to create a Flickr Album where City Library staff can review your artwork. How to create a Flickr Album as a portfolio for a City Library Art Exhibit Submission: Click Here for full information about the Art Exhibit Call for Entries and to access the electronic submission form, or Click Here for the Teen-Specific Art Exhibit Call for Entries form. |
About the Community Exploration Card How Do I Enter? How Will I Be Notified If I Win?
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