In today’s digital age, the joy of reading has transcended the limitation of geographical boundaries, thanks to the possibility of obtaining non-resident library cards. For avid readers with a Kindle, this means access to a treasure trove of ebooks and audiobooks from libraries far beyond their local jurisdiction.
This guide aims to introduce you to various libraries offering free non-resident library cards. These cards enable you to explore a vast array of literature and resources at your fingertips, all from the comfort of your home or any corner of the world. Whether you’re a fan of classic literature, modern thrillers, educational texts, or children’s stories, this list will help unlock endless possibilities for reading pleasure.
What is a Non-Resident Library Card?
A Non-Resident Library Card allows individuals not residing within a library’s jurisdiction to access its resources for free or a nominal fee. This membership type is invaluable for those living in areas with limited library services or those seeking materials unavailable in their local library.
It grants access to an extensive range of digital books, audiobooks, and sometimes even video content, all available for borrowing remotely. By simply applying for a card, often through an online process, readers can tap into the resources of well-stocked libraries nationwide, broadening their reading options significantly.
How Do You Use It With a Kindle?
Using a non-resident library card with your Kindle is a straightforward process that significantly expands your reading options. Once you have obtained your library card, the first step is to visit the library’s digital lending platform, such as OverDrive, Hoopla, or Libby. After creating an account with the service associated with your library, you can link it to your Amazon account.
This connectivity lets you easily borrow ebooks and audiobooks, which can be sent directly to your Kindle device or app. With titles ranging from latest releases to timeless classics, your virtual library is now as boundless as your reading appetite.
Remember, while most books can be read directly, some digital libraries might require you to download them through the Kindle Store, ensuring a seamless reading experience on your device.
Libraries with Non-Resident Access
Alaska
Anchorage Public Library: Non-residents can pay an annual fee to access Anchorage’s digital resources, including ebooks, audiobooks, and online databases. This option expands access to library services for those living in remote areas. Anchorage Public Library
Arizona
Phoenix Public Library: Non-residents can purchase an annual card to access a comprehensive digital collection, including e-books, audiobooks, and databases. This initiative is part of their broader goal to provide extensive resources to a wider audience. Phoenix Public Library
Arkansas
Central Arkansas Library System (CALS): Non-residents can pay an annual fee to access CALS’s digital resources, which include e-books, audiobooks, and online databases. This is an excellent resource for individuals seeking extensive research and reading materials. Central Arkansas Library System.
California
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL): Non-residents of California can purchase a library card to access LAPL’s extensive digital services, which include e-books, audiobooks, and databases. This is an excellent resource for those who require access to a large and varied digital collection. Los Angeles Public Library
Colorado
Denver Public Library: Non-residents can apply for a library card for a fee, granting them access to the library’s digital resources, including ebooks, audiobooks, and online classes. This service is excellent for those who want a comprehensive array of educational and entertainment options. Denver Public Library
Connecticut
Hartford Public Library: Non-residents who work or attend school in Hartford can get a free library card, and others can pay for access. The library offers various digital resources, including online learning platforms and digital media. Hartford Public Library
Delaware
Wilmington Public Library: Offers a non-resident library card for an annual fee. This card provides access to various digital resources, including online databases and streaming media. Wilmington Public Library
Florida
Orange County Library System: For those living outside of Orange County, an annual fee can get you a library card that provides access to a rich collection of digital resources and physical materials, making it valuable for local and remote users. Orange County Library System
Hawaii
Hawaii State Public Library System: Non-residents can obtain a library card for an annual fee, allowing access to digital collections and physical materials. This is particularly useful for unique local collections and Hawaiian studies. Hawaii State Public Library
Idaho
Boise Public Library: Offers a non-resident subscription for access to digital resources like ebooks, audiobooks, and online courses. This service aims to extend educational opportunities to a wider audience. Boise Public Library
Illinois
Chicago Public Library: Although primarily free for residents, non-residents of Illinois can pay for access to Chicago Public Library’s vast digital collections, which include streaming services, online courses, and extensive research databases. Chicago Public Library
Indiana
Indianapolis Public Library: Offers a non-resident card for an annual fee, allowing access to digital resources like e-books, streaming media, and specialized databases focused on genealogy and local history. Indianapolis Public Library
Iowa
Des Moines Public Library: Offers a non-resident card for an annual fee, allowing access to their digital resources, including e-books, audiobooks, and streaming services. This library is committed to providing broad access to information and entertainment. Des Moines Public Library
Kansas
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library: Non-residents can purchase a library card to access digital materials. The library offers comprehensive resources, including online classes and special collections. Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library
Kentucky
Louisville Free Public Library: Non-residents can pay a fee to access the digital resources of the Louisville Free Public Library, which includes a rich collection of e-books and audiobooks and online learning opportunities. Louisville Free Public Library
Louisiana
New Orleans Public Library: Non-residents can obtain a library card for an annual fee, giving them access to digital and physical collections, including music and video streaming services and a wide variety of e-books. New Orleans Public Library
Maine
Portland Public Library: Non-residents can pay a fee to access Portland’s extensive digital library, which includes online classes, ebooks, and more. Portland Public Library
Massachusetts
Boston Public Library: Non-residents can obtain an eCard, which offers free access to various digital resources, including ebooks, audiobooks, and online databases. This eCard is available to anyone who lives, works, or studies in Massachusetts. Boston Public Library
Michigan
Detroit Public Library: Non-residents can purchase a library card to access digital resources, including ebooks and audiobooks. This is ideal for those interested in the library’s special collections on automotive history and music, especially from the Detroit area. Detroit Public Library
Minnesota
Hennepin County Library: Offers a fee-based card for non-residents, providing access to their digital and physical collections. This library system is renowned for its broad selection of educational and recreational materials. Hennepin County Library
Mississippi
Jackson Hinds Library System: Offers an annual subscription for non-residents that provides access to their digital and physical collections. It’s an excellent resource for regional literature and research materials. Jackson Hinds Library System
Missouri
St. Louis Public Library: Non-residents can obtain a library card for an annual fee, granting access to digital resources such as e-books, audiobooks, and databases. St. Louis Public Library is dedicated to extending its services to as broad an audience as possible. St. Louis Public Library
Montana
Missoula Public Library: Offers a non-resident card that provides access to both digital and physical collections for an annual fee. Their services include a broad range of online media and educational tools. Missoula Public Library
Nebraska
Omaha Public Library: Non-residents can purchase a library card with access to their extensive digital and physical collections. The library offers a variety of resources, including educational programs and digital media. Omaha Public Library
Nevada
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District: Offers a non-resident card for an annual fee that provides access to an extensive array of digital resources, including e-books, audiobooks, and online learning tools. Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
New Hampshire
Manchester City Library: Non-residents can pay for access to various digital resources, including e-books and audiobooks. This card also includes access to unique online databases and local history archives. Manchester City Library
New Jersey
Newark Public Library: Non-residents can pay a fee to access Newark’s digital library, which includes specialized collections in art and local history, along with general educational materials and ebooks. Newark Public Library
New York
New York Public Library (NYPL): The NYPL offers out-of-state residents an annual fee-based membership that provides access to one of the richest collections of digital resources in the country, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more. This option is ideal for researchers and avid readers alike. New York Public Library
Brooklyn Public Library: This library offers a similar program to NYPL for non-residents who wish to access their vast array of digital materials. An annual fee grants access to an extensive selection of digital content. Brooklyn Public Library
North Carolina
Charlotte Mecklenburg Library: Non-residents can purchase a library card for an annual fee, providing access to digital and physical collections. The library serves as a hub for educational resources and community engagement. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Ohio
Cleveland Public Library: Offers a fee-based non-resident card that provides access to their extensive digital resources. This library is mainly known for its significant investment in digital literacy and technology access. Cleveland Public Library
Oklahoma
Metropolitan Library System (Oklahoma City): Non-residents can pay an annual fee to access digital collections, including many e-books and audiobooks. This library system focuses on providing extensive digital services. Metropolitan Library System
Oregon
Multnomah County Library: Non-residents can obtain a library card for an annual fee, providing access to their digital collections, including ebooks and audiobooks. This library is known for its strong community programs and excellent online services. Multnomah County Library
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Free Library: The Free Library of Philadelphia offers an annual fee-based library card for out-of-state residents, which includes access to their digital library. This includes ebooks, audiobooks, and other online resources. Free Library of Philadelphia
Rhode Island
Providence Public Library: Non-residents can access digital resources by paying an annual fee. This library offers extensive e-resources, including online courses and special collections in arts and history. Providence Public Library
South Carolina
Charleston County Public Library: Provides non-residents access to digital resources for an annual fee. The library offers many materials, including downloadable media and online learning platforms. Charleston County Public Library
South Dakota
Siouxland Libraries (Sioux Falls): Offers non-resident access for a fee, providing digital resources such as ebooks and online learning platforms. This initiative supports lifelong learning and digital inclusion. Siouxland Libraries
Tennessee
Memphis Public Libraries: Offers a non-resident card for an annual fee, giving access to their digital services, including ebooks, audiobooks, and online databases. This card also allows physical materials to be checked out for those visiting Memphis occasionally. Memphis Public Libraries
Texas
Houston Public Library: The Houston Public Library provides a “Power Card” for any Texas resident living outside of Houston, offering access to a wealth of digital materials at no cost. This is especially useful for Texas residents who cannot easily visit the library in person. Houston Public Library
Utah
Salt Lake City Public Library: Non-residents can access digital resources by paying an annual fee. The library offers diverse digital books, educational courses, and more designed to cater to various interests and needs. Salt Lake City Public Library
Vermont
Burlington Public Library: Non-residents who work or study in Burlington can access digital resources for free, while others may pay a fee. The library offers various digital services, including streaming video and research databases. Burlington Public Library
Virginia
Fairfax County Public Library: Offers free library cards to non-residents who work, attend school, or own property in Fairfax County. This card provides access to an extensive array of digital and physical resources, making it an excellent asset for continuous learning and entertainment. Fairfax County Public Library
Washington
Seattle Public Library: Non-residents may pay a fee to access a wide array of digital resources offered by the Seattle Public Library, including online databases, ebooks, and audiobooks. This library is noted for its innovative approaches to library services. Seattle Public Library
Washington (District of Columbia)
District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL): DCPL offers a temporary library card for non-residents, which provides access to their digital resources, including streaming media, e-books, and online databases. This option is particularly beneficial for temporarily residing in or visiting the area. District of Columbia Public Library
West Virginia
Kanawha County Public Library: Non-residents can purchase a library card to access digital and physical collections. This includes a wide range of ebooks and educational resources. Kanawha County Public Library
Wyoming
Laramie County Library System: Offers a non-resident card that allows access to digital and physical collections. The library is committed to providing broad access to information and resources. Laramie County Library System
Final Thoughts on Non-Resident Library Access
Across the US, libraries opening their doors to non-residents show a real commitment to keeping things inclusive and ensuring everyone gets a fair shot at information. No matter where you are, from the beaches to the mountains, libraries give folks outside their local area access to a world of knowledge, fun, and continuous learning without any barriers.
Whether it’s ebooks, audiobooks, online classes, or streaming content, these services prove that libraries are keeping up with the digital age. This kind of access is a win-win—it helps people grow personally and builds stronger communities by keeping everyone informed and engaged.
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