Qualifications for Customer Registration

Anyone who meets one of the following qualifications may obtain a library card free of charge upon verification of identity and address.

  • Resident of Forsyth County
  • Owner of property in Forsyth County
  • Student or teacher in a Forsyth County school, college or university
  • Resident in an NC County with reciprocal borrowing privileges (Alleghany, Davidson, Davie, Guilford, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry & Yadkin).

Those eligible must apply for library cards at a library location, the bookmobiles or through offsite registration with a library staff member. School groups, library tour groups, etc. may submit paper registrations.

What You Need to Obtain a Library Card

To be eligible for a Forsyth County Library card the patron must have official form of photo ID and proof of local address. These requirements can be met by a valid driver’s license with a current address or a combination of 1 from the identification column and 1 from the address column.

Identification Address
Passport Post marked piece of mail with patron’s name and current address
State issued ID Lease, deed, or utility agreement with patron’s name and current address
Military ID Car registration or insurance card with name and current address
School or work identification card Checkbook with current address
Any other official picture ID Pay stub with current address

Out-of-County Library Card Holders

Non-residents may purchase cards for an annual fee of $25 dollars. Non-resident library card holders must apply and renew in person at any location of the Forsyth County Public Library.

Loan periods for library materials vary:
Print materials (Pops, books, magazines, ephemera, etc.) 21 days
Nonfiction DVDs and Videos 21 days
Audio material (CDs, cassettes, Playaways) 21 days
Fiction DVDs and Videos and eBook Readers 7 days
Interlibrary Loan Determined by the lending library

Late Charges

Fines are not charged for the late return of most library materials with the exception of videocassettes, DVDs, Interlibrary loan materials and eBook readers. Videos, DVDs and eBook readers are assessed the following fines:

  • Videos and DVDs $2.00 per day/maximum fine per item $20.00
  • eBook Readers $5.00 per day/maximum fine of $250.00
  • Interlibrary loans Fines are assessed by the lending institution

Renewals

Most items may be renewed four (4) times, in person, by telephone or online, if they are not on request. Popular Library materials, videos, DVDs, eReaders, video & music, and storytime kits are non-renewable. Interlibrary loans and eReaders must be returned inside the library to the check out desk where the device was checked out.

Replacing a Library Card

Library cards are replaced free in these instances:

  • Card is broken
  • Signature is old (signed when child)
  • Name is not correct (due to marriage, etc.)
  • Card has been stolen
  • Card has been destroyed by act of nature
  • Specialty library cards (Generation Teen)
  • Migration from child to teen to adult library card
  • Trading up to the most current style library card

Fees are charged for cards replaced for all other reasons. The first replacement card costs $1.00. Additional replacement cards cost $5.00 each.

Paper Forms