Library Membership

You can join the library by visiting any branch or registering online.

If you are under the age of 18 you must get the permission of a parent or guardian who must sign the necessary form.

To join please bring photo ID and proof of address (e.g. a bill for gas, electricity, telephone, mobile phone; a bank statement, issued within the past 6 months) with you.

If you register online you will have one month to visit a branch - bringing photo ID and proof of address - and get your library card. Registering online entitles you to reserve one item at the time of registration.

Membership is governed by Regulations, Terms and Conditions.

Renewing your library membership

Your library membership needs to be renewed every year to continue borrowing, reserving and renewing and using online resources.

We will send you notification when your library membership is due for renewal. You will also see a message when logged in to your account. You can either renew online when logged in to your library account or at your local library.  

You will find instructions on how to renew online in our FAQs.

To renew at your library bring your library card and photo ID. If you have changed address in the previous year, you will need to bring along proof of your new address.

Your library account

Your library card also gives you a library account that lets you request and reserve materials online. To access your account you will need to enter your Borrower ID (The number on your library card) and your Personal Identification Number (PIN).

You can request a PIN online or at your library. 

If you register your email address to your library account you can:

  • receive a reminder when your books are overdue
  • receive a reminder when your library membership is up for renewal
  • be notified by email when an item you requested is ready for collection.

To register an email address, login to your library account and select 'personal details'. Enter (or amend) your email address. Once your email address is added you will receive an email confirmation email. Please follow the instructions to confirm your email address.

Borrowing and Returning

As a member of the library you can borrow up to 12 items for three weeks. This includes books, DVDs, audiobooks and computer games (max 2 games at a time).

Borrow and return items using the self service kiosks in all libraries, or by using the library app.

Items borrowed can be returned to any public library in Ireland.

Using our online services you can also borrow up to five eBooks and five eAudiobooks for three weeks, fifty digital magazines and newspapers and unlimited graphic novels and comics for two weeks.

Renewing

You can renew your loans online, in person, or by telephone.

To renew online, enter your Borrower ID library card number and your Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you don't know your PIN, request a new PIN online.

If renewing by telephone, please quote your library card number or the number of the item (barcode).

You cannot renew an item that is reserved by someone else, or where its renewal limit (5 renewals) has been reached.

Reserving an Item

Using the library catalogue you can reserve books and DVDs currently on loan; available from other libraries; or on order. Libraries receive deliveries each week so hopefully you won't be waiting very long.

If you want something that isn't in the catalogue you can place an order for it in your local library. We will do our best to get it for you. There is no charge for reserving materials, but you can only have a maximum of 12 active reserves at any one time.

Charges

Membership of the libraries is FREE.

There is **no charge** for requests for items in the catalogue.

Since January 2019, library members have not had to pay fines for overdue items and any pre-existing fines are not collected.

If we have to order an item from the British Library Document Supply Centre or a similar mechanism, we charge €5.00 per reserve. You will be advised of this charge when placing the reserve.

Photocopying and printing

For information on charges for printing and photocopying see Print, Scan, Copy.

The Dublin City Libraries Mobile App

The library app gives you a quick and easy way to manage your account and search the library catalogue on your smart phone or tablet. Once you're a member you can use the app to:

  • access and manage your library account
  • issue and return items
  • reserve and renew items
  • locate your nearest branch library and see its opening hours
  • view a list of upcoming library events
  • download eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, eComics and eGraphic novels
  • access online resources

You can download the app for Google Play - Android and iTunes - iOS.

If you have any other questions about using Dublin City Libraries visit our FAQs page.

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