Your Library Card

How To Obtain a Library Card

Bring your Picture ID and Proof of Residence to the Library, fill out and sign the application, and start borrowing right away!

Parents need to accompany and sign for cards for children under 16.

AM I ELIGIBLE TO GET A MASCOUTAH PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD?

Those who reside within the corporate city limits of Mascoutah support the public library through their property taxes.  If your property tax bill shows a line which says CITY OF MASCOUTAH LIBRARY, you satisfy the requirement to be a RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF MASCOUTAH since you reside within the corporate city limits of Mascoutah, and are entitled to a free library card. If you own property within the city limits you also qualify for one free card as a property owner. If you rent your residence and are not sure whether you are within the corporate city limits, please consult your landlord or inquire at the City Hall. City residents and property owners will be asked for IDENTIFICATION SHOWING YOUR PICTURE AND CURRENT RESIDENCE OR PROPERTY OWNED. 

IF YOU DO NOT PAY THE CITY OF MASCOUTAH LIBRARY TAX

If you do not pay the city of Mascoutah Library Tax on your property tax bill and have not been recently annexed into the city of Mascoutah, then you reside outside the corporate city limits, regardless of where you receive your mail or where your children go to school. Most rural addresses for Mascoutah are outside the city limits. ILLINOIS STATE LAW requires that citizens who live OUTSIDE a library's support area pay a fee equivalent to the local tax levy for library support if they wish to obtain a library card. We understand that some citizens, especially those from other states, may find this policy unusual or unfair. We'll be happy to provide you with names and addresses of your Illinois legislators so you may register your complaint with the persons who have the power to change the state law.

NON-RESIDENTS

The fee for Non-Residents of the Mascoutah Library's support area is $125.00 per year, per household. This fee entitles everyone residing within a household to use materials from the Mascoutah Library and provides them access to items available from other libraries through the inter-library loan network.

If you don't wish to pay the non-resident fee for a library card, you are still welcome to use materials within the library. However, no materials may be checked out or ordered on inter-library loan without a library card. If you have any questions about this matter, please feel free to discuss it with a staff member.

RECIPROCAL BORROWING

Reciprocal borrowing privileges are available between public libraries in the State of Illinois.  This means that patrons of an Illinois public library may use their valid home library card to borrow materials when visiting another public library. Reciprocal patrons must have an unexpired library card in hand to borrow materials. Only public libraries participate in this reciprocal agreement.  

BOROWING LIMITS

The date due will be visible on a card or slip accompanying each item as you check out. Please do no remove the date due card/slip from the book pocket. Books, audio books, puppets, kits, and CD's can all be checked out for 3 weeks while videos, DVD's, and magazines are checked out for 1 week.

CD's, DVD's, and Audio Books have a limit of 5 items per check out.

Up to 10 VHS can be checked out at once.

PLACING HOLDS

Items can be placed on hold at the library or from the comfort of your own home. Patrons can search for items in the library catalog and cilck on request item, then enter your library card barcode.

RENEWING YOUR BORROWED ITEMS

Library materials may be renewed by phone, in person, or over the Internet, but may be renewed only once from home. New items may not be renewed.

LIBRARY FINES

VHS, CDs, DVDs, and Audio Books are $1 per item per day.

Books, Magazines, and all other items are 5 cents per item per day.