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Library Cards & Borrowing Policies
Get a Library Card
Whether a Nevada County resident or just visiting, everyone is eligible for a free library card. Non-residents may obtain a limited account, offering access to a range of services. Get a library card in person at any Nevada County Library location or register for a temporary online account below.
Temporary Online Registration
- Complete the online registration form linked below
- Remember to write down your temporary login information after completing the form
- Bring proof of residency and identification to any Nevada County Library location within 30 days of registering online to verify your account and receive a permanent library card. If you reside in Nevada County and are in need of accommodation, please e-mail library.reference@nevadacountyca.gov or call (530) 265-7050. We do not mail cards to those who reside outside of Nevada County. After 30 days, your temporary registration will be deleted.
With this temporary login you can place library materials on hold, access your account through the library's online catalog and utilize many of the library's digital resources. Access to Libby and Hoopla will be restricted until you receive your physical library card.
Note: In compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection act, you must be 13 or older in order to complete the library card registration.
Complete the Temporary Online Registration Form
Youth
- For children ages 0 to 12
- Application must be signed by parent or legal guardian with proof of identification
- Unlimited borrowing of Nevada County Library materials*
*Youth accounts are restricted from borrowing Equipment including hotspots and Recreation collection items
Teen
- For teens ages 13 to 17
- Student identification card from a local school, driver's license, or other identification requested. Parent/guardian does not need to be present at time of application
- Unlimited borrowing of Nevada County Library materials
Adult
- For library patrons 18 and older
- Verification of California (or Washoe County, NV) address and proof of identity requested
- Unlimited borrowing of Nevada County Library materials
Limited
- For all ages
- Verification of identity or address not required
- Borrow up to 10 items*
*Limited accounts are restricted from borrowing Equipment, Link+ materials and are restricted from accessing some digital resources including Libby and Hoopla.
Student Success
- Borrow up to 3 items, excluding media, equipment and Link+
- Enrolled through Nevada Joint Union High School District or Tahoe Truckee Unified School District
Educator
- Unlimited borrowing of Nevada County Library materials*
- 60-day loan period
- Visit the Educator Card page for more information
Educator accounts are excluded from borrowing Equipment and Link+ materials
Photo identification and proof of address is required to activate your library card. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Current utility bill with name and address
- Tribal ID card
- Student ID card
- Paycheck stub with address
- A piece of mail addressed to applicant
- Voter registration
- Letter or lease agreement from current place of residence
Library accounts expire every three years and will need to be renewed in person, over the phone or via email. To renew your account visit any Nevada County Library location, call 530-265-7050 or submit the online Ask-A-Librarian form. Only residents of Nevada County may renew their library account over the phone or via email. Nonresidents of Nevada County must visit a library location to renew their library account.
Borrowing Policies
Library materials can be checked out for one to three weeks, depending on the material type. Library materials do not accrue overdue fines, but the borrower may be charged for a lost or damaged item. Search the Library's catalog to place an item on hold for pick up and return library materials to any Nevada County Library location most convenient to you.
3 weeks
- Books in print
- Audiobooks on CD
- eBooks & eAudiobooks
2 weeks
- DVDs, CDs & Magazines
- Lucky Day checkouts
- Hotspots
Special Equipment
- Telescopes: 7 Day checkout
- CA State Parks Pass & SnoParks passes: 7 Day checkout
- Recreation Collection items: 7 Day checkout
Overdue fines will not be charged, lost or damaged item fees may apply.
Place an item on hold through the library's online catalog, by phone or in person at any Nevada County Library location. The borrower will receive a notification when the item is available for pickup. Held items will be available for 7 business days.
- Library materials may be renewed 2 times, unless the item has a hold request. Currently, library materials will be auto-renewed when available
- Link+ materials may be renewed 1 time, unless the item has a hold request. Link+ items will auto-renew when available
- Interlibrary Loan (ILL): Loan period is at the discretion of the lending library. Renewals must be approved by the lending library. Visit the ILL page for more information
- Hotspots are not renewable
Most items may be returned 24/7 to any circulating branch (Madelyn Helling in Nevada City, Grass Valley, Truckee, Bear River, or Penn Valley), regardless of where they were originally checked out. Exceptions: Equipment, such as a telescope, should be returned to the location from which it was borrowed, during library operating hours.