Get a library card
Visit our Library Card FAQ page
Have questions? Visit our Library Card FAQ page.
What to bring when you register in person
All identification must be original documents.
Preferred personal identification
- Adult & Youth (14-18 years): Bring one of the following with your name, signature and current B.C. address:
- B.C. Driver's licence
- B.C. Services Card
- B.C. ID
- (For Youth) You can also bring your student I.D. card issued by B.C. high schools.
- Children (0-13 years)
- Bring your parent or legal guardian – they will need to sign your card.
- Or bring an Application Form that your parent or legal guardian has completed and signed.
- Or your parent or legal guardian can come in and get your card for you.
If you do not have one of the above preferred personal identification cards you will need to bring two pieces of ID, one from each of these lists:
List 1: Government-issued identification by Government of Canada or other province/territory, for example:
- Passport
- Driver’s licence
- Medical card
- Birth Certificate
- Social Insurance card
- Status Indian card
- Citizenship card
- Permanent Resident Card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR)
- Canadian visa or work permit issued for 6 months or more
List 2: Proof of residential address:
- Rental agreement (officially signed)
- Bank statement or personalized cheque
- Utility bill*
- Personal mail with current postmark*
- Hotel receipt(s)*
- Home stay information letter (complete address & student’s name must be in letter)
- Bank account or utility bills opened on your personal electronic device are accepted (photographs of documents are not)
*mailed items or receipts must be dated and no more than one month old.
NOTE
If you have proof of residential address but don’t yet have a Canadian-issued identification card, you may get a library card by showing a Canadian visa/work permit that has been issued for 6 months or more.
Library cardholder's rights and responsibilities
- Each person can have only one active library card.
- You are responsible for all the materials borrowed on your card and for any charges on items that are lost or damaged (see Limits, Holds and Charges for details).
- Parents are responsible for activity on a child's card until the child is 14 years of age.
- Adults may not borrow material for their own use on youth or children's library cards.
- Your library card provides Internet access in the library and personal access to some licensed databases from outside the library. Your card cannot be used by another person, group or institution to access licensed databases. Access to these databases (or electronic resources) for Vancouver Public Library members is governed by license agreements and varies based on your city of residence.
- If you lose your library card, report it immediately to any VPL branch so we prevent anyone else from using it.
- To change your email address or phone number, you can fill out this online form or contact any VPL branch and we will update your record.
- To change your address, please drop by any VPL branch (in person) to show us a document with your new address on it (we need to see it in person due to licensing requirements related to place of residency).
Lost and expired cards
Please report your lost card immediately by calling or visiting any VPL branch. Until you do so, anything checked out on your card is your responsibility. When you tell us your card is missing we will make a note in the computer so that no one can use it.
You can replace your card at any VPL branch.
If you see the message "Your account has expired", you will need to renew your library card. Call Circulation Services at 604.331.3670 or any branch to renew.
Cardholders residing in service agreement areas may be asked to go to their local branch to renew their card.