Get a Card

If you're new to Canada and don't have identification with your Canadian address, you can get a library card. Please show us any two of the following items:

• Work or Student Visa
• Refugee Claimant (no decision)
• Convention Refugee (protected person)
• Land Document IMM 1000
• Permanent Resident Card
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• Denied Refugee (under appeal)
• Sponsored Person (immigrant)

Non-resident customers are welcome but must pay an annual fee of $51 to get a BPL card with full borrowing privileges. This fee is equal to the annual per capita amount the City of Burlington contributes to support the Library's annual operating budget.

If you hold a valid Hamilton Public Library card, you can borrow up to eight items and place two holds, at no extra cost, from Burlington Public Library. If you'd like to have borrowing privileges in Burlington, please bring in your HPL card and photo ID with your current address.

Not included in these privileges:

• downloadable eBooks and eAudiobooks available through the BPL Download Centre
• interlibrary loan service
• Talking Book & Daisy collection
• Visiting Library Services
• use of online databases outside of the library

When you become a library member, you agree to:

• be responsible for the items you borrow
• follow the rules, regulations, and policies of Burlington Public Library

Even when a library card is loaned to a friend, or becomes lost or stolen, you are still responsible for items borrowed on your account. Anytime a card is used, we presume the cardholder has permission to use it.

You may borrow up to 50 items on your card. Certain borrowing restrictions apply:

• 2 EXPRESS items are allowed on a card at one time
• 5 video games are allowed on a card at one time (starting January 18, 2013)
• 1 eReader (including EXPRESS) is allowed on a card at one time
• eReaders may be borrowed on adult, senior, and young adult library cards only
• mature video games and restricted DVDs can only be borrowed on an adult card
• items may be renewed, but there are some exceptions

If an item is currently not available, you can place a "hold" on it. You can have up to 75 holds on your card. General holds information

The library's video console game collection includes simulation, strategy, role-playing, sports, and action video games geared to families, children, teens and adults. The games include Nintendo Wii and DS, XBOX 360, PlayStation2, and PlayStation3. All games are free to borrow, but there are overdue fines for late returns.

Our collection features games rated:

• Everyone (E): may be suitable for age six and older
• Everyone 10+ (E+): may be suitable for age 10 and older
• Teen (T): may be suitable for age 13 and older
• Mature (M) may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older

When you don’t have your library card or appropriate identification, you may borrow two items maximum. You will have no access to your library account record, except to pay fines or find out what is overdue.

When picking up a hold item for someone else, you must present the library card belonging to the person who placed the hold. You may not borrow the item using your library card.

Every two years we verify that your personal information, such as your address and telephone number, are up-to-date. Your library card will automatically “expire” until the personal information has been verified. As a security precaution, we do not update personal information over the phone.

If your library membership status has expired, we will extend the expiry date for one loan period only; please bring your library card or appropriate identification to the closest library branch to reactivate your account.