If you live within the boundaries of the Glen Ellyn Public Library district, you may register for a free library card.

To apply in person, visit the Library Services Desk with your current photo ID (see List A for common examples). If your photo ID doesn’t show your current address, a second form of ID will be necessary (see List B for common examples).

Adults who are unable to sign or accept financial responsibility for themselves must have a guardian sign and accept responsibility for them.

Please note: Not all Glen Ellyn addresses are within the Glen Ellyn Public Library district. There are two ways to determine within which library district you reside:

• Your real estate tax bill lists which, if any, library district your taxes support
• Inquire by contacting Library Services.

All persons under 18 years of age who apply for a library card must have a resident adult parent or legal guardian sign their registration form at the time the card is issued. The adult must provide the forms of ID specified in the Adult Resident section. The adult’s signature establishes acceptance by the parent or guardian of financial responsibility for all materials borrowed with the card.

Minor resident library cards expire on the minor’s 18th birthday.

Individuals living outside the incorporated Village of Glen Ellyn boundaries may purchase a library card for an annual fee determined by their current property assessment or their annual rent and the library’s current tax rate. To be eligible for a Glen Ellyn non-resident card, your principal residence must be:

• In Glen Ellyn School District 41
• In Glen Ellyn School District 89
• Closer to the Glen Ellyn Public Library than any other public library

When applying for a card, the applicant must present a current tax bill or lease and current photo ID from List A. The annual unincorporated library card fee will be calculated as follows.

• Homeowner: Net Taxable Value (shown on current property tax bill) times the Library’s current tax rate
• Renters: Monthly rent times 15%

Individuals renting a room or partial living space with no formal lease agreement will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Cards must be renewed annually. The appropriate tax or lease document and ID is required at each renewal.

Unincorporated Residents Residing on Tax-Exempt Property

Unincorporated residents living on tax-exempt property may apply for a library card by providing ID. The applicant will be charged a fee equal to the annual library tax extension divided by the number of households in the Village of Glen Ellyn counted in the most recent municipal census.

Cards must be renewed annually. An ID is required at each renewal.

Refunds

Unincorporated fees are refundable based on the prorated remaining full months of use, if:

1. The purchaser’s property is annexed to the Village and the library is on the purchaser’s property tax bill for the same year that the library card was purchased, or:
2. All active cards are surrendered, all outstanding materials are returned, and all outstanding fines and fees have been paid.

An individual who owns property within the incorporated limits of Glen Ellyn but primarily resides outside within the Village limits is entitled to receive a library card based on the provisions of Illinois State law (75 ILCS 16/30-55.60).

Glen Ellyn property owners must present their most current property tax statement along with their ID.

Borrowing privileges extend to one designated individual per parcel.

Cards must be renewed annually. The appropriate tax or lease document ID is required at each renewal.

To compensate for the impact of new housing on library services, through the immediate request from residents for services preceding any property tax being assessed against new construction, the library requires developers of new residential real estate in the Village of Glen Ellyn to pay for an impact fee which covers the cost of services in the interim period between the purchase of property, the acquisition of a building permit, and the receipt of tax revenue by the library, which is typically 1.5 years.

With the payment of the impact fee by the developer, the owner is immediately eligible for library services.

Impact fees are to be paid prior to issuance of the building permit, and must be paid prior to registration for a library card. The annual Residents of Newly Developed Property/Developers’ Impact Fee will be calculated as follows.

The Current tax extension for the Glen Ellyn Public Library divided by the population of Glen Ellyn times the number of years until tax income is received (1.5) times the population equivalent of the unit (based on the equivalency figures used by the Village of Glen Ellyn and the Glenbard Wastewater Authority).

To determine the current assessment, please contact the library.

Any corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, church, or unit of government located in the incorporated Village of Glen Ellyn is eligible for a library card free of charge at the Glen Ellyn Public Library under the following conditions.

1. The owner or manager of the organization completes the Business Library Card Application/Renewal and presents a photo ID and business card that includes the applicant’s name, title, and business address
2. The owner or manager agrees to be financially responsible for all materials checked out on the card
3. The library card is in possession of the user receiving library services

All business library cards carry full borrowing privileges at the Glen Ellyn Public Library for business materials only. Businesses must renew their card(s) annually by providing the same documentation.

Updated August 2021

Any school located in Glen Ellyn or part of a Glen Ellyn School District or a partner organization providing student support services to Glen Ellyn schools, is eligible for a library card free of charge at the Glen Ellyn Public Library (GEPL) under the following conditions:

• • The school or organization has a Librarian or designated staff to act as the main contact for the GEPL staff.
  • The school or organization and GEPL develop a mutually acceptable written agreement regarding services and materials to be provided to each institution.
  • The school principal or organization director designates specific staff authorized to use the card.
  • The school or organization agrees to be financially responsible for all materials checked out on the card.
  • The library card is used solely for school-related purposes.
  • The library card remains on file at GEPL for use by request of the authorized individuals each time they visit the library.
  • Picture ID will be shown each time material is checked out from GEPL.

All such cards are valid for use only at the Glen Ellyn Public Library for dates established in the user agreements. Agreements are renewed annually and must be approved through the school or organization’s GEPL staff contact.

… Transitional Housing

Residents in Glen Ellyn transitional housing may apply for a library card by presenting their housing contract or lease and photo ID from List A. Borrowing privileges will be extended to one designated individual and the library card will expire after three years or on the date the contract expires, whichever occurs first.

The card may be renewed by presenting an updated contract or lease and an ID from List A.

… Library Service Areas Inside the SWAN Consortium

Cardholders from other SWAN libraries may use their current, unrestricted library card to borrow physical items at the Glen Ellyn Public Library..

… Library Service Areas Outside the SWAN Consortium

Cardholders from Illinois public libraries that are not part of the SWAN consortium must provide their photo ID and current, unrestricted public library card to receive reciprocal borrowing privileges for physical items at Glen Ellyn Public Library.

Cardholders are responsible for all items on their library card. To prevent unauthorized use of their library cards, cardholders should immediately report lost or stolen cards. All cases of unauthorized use are the full responsibility of the member to whom the card belongs.

Once the library has been notified that a card has been lost or stolen, the card number will immediately be blocked. A new library card will be issued once identification has been verified. If you have any questions, please contact Library Services.

Adults who live in unincorporated areas who have a student attending school in District 41, District 89, or Glenbard South or Glenbard West high school in District 87, may participate in the library’s Open Books Open Doors program. Criteria to qualify for a library card include having a child with a Cards for Kids library card, or qualifying for an Illinois LINK card .

Application forms and additional information are available for download or through a participating school’s principal. For more information, please contact the Finance/HR Director.

The Cards for Kids Act (2021) is an amendment to Public Library Non-Resident Services that provides a library card free of charge to

• Students in pre-k through grade 12 who participate in the Federal Free and Reduced-Price Meal Program.
• Homeschool students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade whose household meets the current Income Eligibility Guidelines for the Reduced Price Meals.
• Honorably discharge veteran with a disability of more than 70%; or a surviving spouse of a such a veteran who currently lives at the property with the Disabled Veteran Exemption.

To receive a card at Glen Ellyn Public Library, students in Glen Ellyn schools will need the letter of free and reduced lunch eligibility that they receive each year on or around July 1 from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). If students misplace their letters, they may request new copies from school. Cards covered by this Act can and will only be registered in a student’s name.

Application forms and additional information are available for download or through a participating school’s principal. For more information, please contact the Finance/HR Director.