GETTING A LIBRARY CARD
Only residents and property owners of Washington
Library District may receive free library cards.
Procedures vary, depending on the age of the patron
and whether the patron is a resident of Washington
Library District, as opposed to being solely a property owner. 

Adult cards are issued to adults 18 or older.

Young Adult cards are issued to young adults
ages 14 through 17.

Juvenile cards are issued to children ages 4 years
old through 8th grade.

Those who live outside the Washington Library
District and do not reside in the district of another
tax-supported library may purchase a library card
from Washington Library if they live in immediate
proximity to the Washington Library District.

Patrons may only hold one library card in the
Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS)
at a time and old cards from other libraries should be
surrendered at the time of application for a new card.

When applying for a new card, patrons need to
come into the library to fill out a registration form and
show identification that has their current address on it.
There is a 5-7 day waiting period before the card is
ready; however, patrons may check out three items,
except movies, when applying for their card.

Library cards need to be renewed every three
years by coming into the library to verify current
information in the patron’s record is correct.