Library Cards
Who May Use The Library
All the residents of the city of Maplewood, persons owning property in Maplewood, owners of businesses located in Maplewood, teachers in the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District, and persons residing in the library districts of the Libraries Without Boundaries lending cooperative are eligible for a free library card. Children up to the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian’s signature in order to obtain a library card.
Persons with approved library cards from the other Municipal Library Consortium libraries may check out Maplewood Library materials. They are subject to the same borrowing privileges and restrictions as Maplewood cardholders.
Nonresidents may pay an annual fee for a library card and are subject to the same privileges and restrictions as free cardholders.
The Library reserves the right to deny or curtail its use and services to groups or individuals making excessive demands on staff time. The Library reserves the right to limit the number of titles borrowed by one person at any one time, especially in certain heavily used subject areas.
The use of the Library or its services may be denied for due cause. Such cause may include failure to return items or to pay penalties, destruction of library property, disturbance of other patrons, or any other objectionable conduct on library premises.
How To Get A Card
Any resident of Maplewood can get a free library card. You may apply for a new card in person or online.
When you apply for a Library card, you will need photo ID with your current address. If your photo ID does not have your current address, then we will also need to see an official piece of mail (electric bill, phone bill, etc.) or lease with your current address. Applicants under the age of 18 will need a parent's signature to apply for a library card.
You can register online through the library's website at www.maplewoodpubliclibrary.org. From the home page, click on "My Account" near the right corner of the screen, and then click the registration link. Once you have submitted your online application, bring your photo ID and proof of current address to the Library to pick up your card and finalize registration.
Effective October 19, 2022, Maplewood residents age 18+ with photo ID, but no proof of current address, may receive a temporary Maplewood Public Library card valid for a three month period. If the card-holder is unable to provide proof of address after three months, the card may be extended for another three month period, providing that there are no unpaid fines on the account and no borrowed material has been considered lost or damaged. Borrowing privileges will be revoked if proof of address has not been provided at the end of the second three month period. Once proof of address is provided, the temporary library card will be updated to include full privileges per Maplewood Public Library lending policies.
Privileges and limits of a temporary library card:
- A maximum of 3 items may be checked out at a time.
- Library of Things materials- telescopes, hot spots, etc.- and Try a Hobby kits may not be checked out.
- A temporary Library card will grant the cardholder access to all of the Library’s eResources.
- Access will be granted to public-use computers.
- Materials may be requested from other libraries in the Municipal Library Consortium, but materials may not be requested via Interlibrary Loan.
Residents of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles City-County, Jefferson County, or the Scenic Regional Library service area may also get a Maplewood Public Library card through our cooperative lending program.
If you live within the boundaries of any of our Municipal Library Consortium partners, you can use Maplewood Library using your existing library card. If you do not have a library card from your home library, you can apply online through that library's website, or in person at Maplewood Public Library. Just be sure to let us know where you live!
Business owners in Maplewood can still get a free card even if they don’t live in any of our cooperating library districts by providing proof of ownership.
For anyone else, a non-resident library card is available for a $20 annual fee.
Reciprocal Borrowing
The Maplewood Public Library is a member of the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County. Each member library retains its own policies on circulation periods, overdue fines, and the selection of materials.
Read more about our reciprocal borrowing program in our Library Policies.
