NEW MEMBERS

Identification Requirements

Proof of address is essential for Adult memberships.

All adult applicants must provide one (1) piece of current identification and/with proof of address when registering for a library membership. See Acceptable ID for Membership for more information.

A Post Office box number does not prove residence. A street address must be provided.

A piece of current mail or personalized cheque may be accepted as proof of address but must be presented in conjunction with identification.

Types of Membership

RESIDENT

• lives within the corporate limits of the City of Edmonton OR
• is the assessed owner of real property or owner or part-owner of a business within the City of Edmonton corporate limits OR
• is applying on behalf of a firm or institution situated within the City of Edmonton corporate limits.

Adult: 18 years of age or over.

Juvenile: Under 18 years of age. Children who are living in a shared custody arrangement are eligible for two (2) library cards, one signed by each parent/guardian.

Independent Juvenile: A person under 18 years of age living independently without local parent or guardian.

Corporate: A business or organization. Schools, kindergartens and other libraries are not eligible for Corporate Library cards as they are funded from Provincial and City taxes. Day care centers and Playschools are eligible as they are considered a business operation.

NON-RESIDENT

• lives outside the corporate limits of the City of Edmonton, but lives within the Province of Alberta, OR
• a business or organization situated outside the City of Edmonton, but within the Province of Alberta.

Borrowing privileges expire within one year of date of issue. (A fee is required because no property tax is paid to the City of Edmonton. A portion of this tax supports the Edmonton Public Library - see Fee Schedule).

Non-Resident Adult: 18 years of age or over.

Non-Resident Juvenile: Under 18 years of age. Children who are living in a shared custody arrangement are eligible for two (2) library cards, one signed by each parent/guardian.

Corporate: A business or organization. Schools, kindergartens and other libraries are not eligible for Corporate Library cards as they are funded from Provincial and City taxes. Day care centers are eligible as they are considered a business operation.

Non-Resident Exemptions

These memberships are assigned a one year expiry date.

Property Tax Payers: Applicants who do not reside within the corporate limits but who own property in Edmonton are not required to pay the annual non-resident fee but must provide a current copy of the notice of property tax assessment showing a tax roll number, plus name and address of the property.

Business Tax Payers: Applicants who do not reside within the corporate limits but who pay a business tax to the City of Edmonton are not required to pay the annual non-resident fee. The applicant must provide a current business tax assessment showing the tax roll number and the address of the company.

VISITOR

An applicant visiting the City of Edmonton for up to three (3) months and who is interested in borrowing materials qualifies for a visitor card. The charge for this membership is a monthly non-refundable fee (see Fee Schedule). If an applicant is visiting in excess of three months they are registered according to the guidelines for a yearly membership.

RECIPROCAL

Adult and Juvenile applicants who have a current card from one of the libraries participating in the Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements are eligible to receive EPL cards at the same rates as City residents.

TAL

All Edmonton Public Library card holders in good standing can apply for a free TAL card.

Reciprocal Borrowers must apply for the TAL card at their home library.

Corporate members and Visitors from outside the province do not qualify for a TAL card.

SPECIAL MEMBERSHIPS

Library Access and Talking Book Memberships

1. Individuals confined to their homes or institutions for a period exceeding three (3) months are eligible for Library Access membership. All Library Access borrowers have a 3 month loan period and are exempt from fines.
2. All LAD applications should be directed to Library Access Division, Stanley A. Milner Library (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
3. Talking Books are unabridged books which have been professionally read and recorded onto audio cassette tape and are provided to print handicapped, medically certified, eligible residents within the City of Edmonton. (Out of town borrowers may be referred to their local libraries).

Staff Memberships

1. Current members of staff, both resident and non-resident, are eligible for a free staff membership.
2. Staff are exempt from overdue fines and Membership Fees.
3. All other library policies apply.

Membership Fees

For actual dollar amounts see Fee Schedule.

1. Resident Adult: Adults (ages 18 years and over) living in Edmonton are issues a free membership.
2. Resident Juvenile: Youth (under 18 years of age) living in Edmonton are issued a free membership.
3. Resident Independent Juvenile: Youth (under 18 years of age) living in Edmonton are issued a free membership.
4. Resident Corporate: Edmonton businesses or organizations are assigned the same membership fee as a Resident Adult. This fee is not waived.
5. Non-Resident Adult: Adults that do not reside within the City of Edmonton may fall under one of three (3) categories:

a. Reciprocal: Reciprocal Adults are subject to payment of an Annual Resident Membership Fee.

b. TAL: Adult TAL records are created in Workflows and an EPL barcode is issued free of charge when the customer presents the TAL card supplied by their home library.

c. Non-Resident: A Non-resident Adult that does not fall within the two aforementioned categories is assessed an annual Non-Resident Fee (per household) plus the annual Resident Membership Fee.

7. Non-Resident Juvenile: A child that lives outside the City of Edmonton is issued a free membership (when the annual Non-Resident Fee household fee has been paid).
8. Non-Resident Corporate: A firm or organization situated outside the city of Edmonton is assessed an annual Non-Resident Fee plus the Corporate membership fee.

MODIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP

Privilege Renewal

Customer record information must be verified and updated as necessary.

Expired Membership

1. Resident Adult cards have no expiration date
2. Resident Juveniles expire on the juvenile’s 18th birthday
3. Visitor membership – up to 3 months

User Not Found

Customer records are removed from the system if the library card is not used within a period of three (3) years. New registration is required.

Re-instatement of Suspended Juvenile Borrowing Privileges

(suspended at parent’s request / by staff)

If a parent/guarantor wishes to have a juvenile's borrowing privileges re-instated, the parent/guarantor must go to a library in person to update the account.

Non-Resident Renewal

1. Non-Resident A non-resident card expires one year from the date of issue. The borrower pays the current Non-Resident assessment and the annual Membership Fee (see Fee Schedule), if applicable.
2. Non-Resident Exemptions (Adult and Corporate) These memberships are given a one year expiry date. In order to renew the membership, the borrower must re-validate the data by providing a current copy of the property / business tax assessment containing the tax roll number and Edmonton address.

Staff must issue a written receipt. 

Reciprocal Borrower Renewal

A reciprocal borrower's card expires one year from the date of issue.

Staff must verify that the borrower possesses a current home library card in good standing with the exception of residents of the Enoch Band.

Juvenile turning 18

A juvenile's library card expires on their 18th birthday.

Staff must confirm juvenile’s address information every 2 years. When a juvenile is 18, they are re-registered as an adult.

Non-Resident Becoming Resident

Issue a refund if applicable (see Fee Schedule).

Resident Becoming Non-Resident

Issue a written receipt for the current non-resident fee if applicable (see Fee Schedule).

Corporate Cards

Corporate cards have a one year expiry date.

Current Director/Manager information and signature must be obtained.

TAL Cards

TAL cards have the same expiry date as the EPL membership or one year whichever is less.

Lost or Stolen Library Cards

A borrower is responsible for any library materials charged out to their library card up until the time the card is reported lost/stolen either by telephone or in person.

If the card is used the same day as it is reported lost, the borrower is not held responsible, but must provide a copy of the police file and documentation. This information should be forwarded to the Associate Manager, Circulation and ILL.

Reinstatement of Lost Card

If the borrower has not been issued a replacement library card the original card will be reinstated.

The borrower must appear in person and present identification to prove ownership.

Lost cards found on library premises or elsewhere

Whether or not the borrower is contacted, the card status is changed to Barred. The card is mailed to the owner with instructions on how to get the card reinstated.

NOTE: do not change the PIN on cards mailed home. When the customer reinstates their card, they expect to have the same PIN as before. Changing the PIN can disrupt a customer's ability to manage their account online.

Reduced Borrowing Limits

Adult memberships

Customers may request or staff may recommend that an adult borrower have a reduced borrowing limit. Accounts may be modified to the EPL-ADU05 profile (limit of 5 items) or the EPL-ADU10 profile (limit of 10 items).

Juvenile memberships

Parent/guarantors may request or staff may recommend that a juvenile borrower have a reduced borrowing limit. Accounts may be modified to the EPL-JUV01 profile (limit of 1 item), EPL-JUV05 profile (limit of 5 items) or EPL-JUV10 profile (limit of 10 items).

See Also:

• EPL Policy – Privacy and Confidentiality of Customer information