Lending & Access Policy

Applicants must provide photo identification and proof of residency in a participating municipality, as follows:

• Column A satisfies proof of both identity and residency.
• Column B provides examples of documentation that may be used in combination and as outlined to satisfy proof of identity and residency.

Children of all ages are eligible for membership, but must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the time of application.

If the application for the child is submitted online, the child must be present when the parent visits the library, within 60 days, to verify the address.

Parents/legal guardians are responsible for all use of the library and its materials by their minor children, and for all fees charged on their child’s account.

The BCLS Mobile Library visits Burlington County schools in participating communities to enhance literacy efforts. Upon request, library staff may provide membership applications to school personnel to facilitate membership for the students. Children may bring in these completed applications, with their parents' signature and obtain a library card to borrow items. For such cards, in addition to parental permission, the child’s enrollment in a school becomes proof of residency.

Each parent/legal guardian of a joint-custody child may obtain a separate card for their child upon provision of a birth certificate. Each parent will be responsible for any debts related to the card they signed. When the child reaches age 18, the two cards will be merged into a new adult card and the individual will be responsible for use of the library.

BCLS requires that account information be verified and renewed periodically with proof of address and photo identification.

Upon receiving notification of account renewal, cardholders must show proof of eligibility at the time of library visit or by email. Those wishing to renew via email must include a scan or photo proof of residency and identification. Please send this to cardrenewals@bcls.lib.nj.us. 

Anyone who does not reside in a participating municipality may apply for BCLS membership by paying an annual fee.* Membership includes all individuals residing at the same address. This annual fee is non-refundable.

RCBC students living in non-member communities are given BCLS library barcodes that are attached to their RCBC ID cards.

This barcode functions the same way as a full-service library card, except it does not provide access to online resources or the digital library. The ID card must be present and display the current semester sticker to be accepted at BCLS locations.

While library cards are primarily given to individuals, organizations in certain cases may be eligible for an institutional account. Please contact BCLS for more information. 

Media Specialists who are employed in schools in participating communities are eligible to borrow up to 200 items for use in the library/media center.

For schools that do not employ a media specialist, the school’s administrative team may designate an employee to manage this type of account. As these items are loaned to the school, not to the employee, the school district is responsible for lost or damaged materials.

The cards must be renewed annually upon proof of continued employment and a letter from the school principal or superintendent.

Educators who reside in non-member communities but who teach in member communities may apply for Educator Cards. Applications are accepted on our website or at any BCLS location.

• Educators applying online will receive a temporary card that will be mailed to the teachers’ schools. They must provide proof of employment within 60 days.
• Educators applying in person will receive temporary cards and must provide proof of employment within 60 days.
• Upon proof of employment, these cards will be valid for one year from the date of issuance.
• Membership will be renewed upon proof of continued employment in person at any library location. Educators may renew online and send proof of employment via email.

Families that educate their child at home are entitled to an educator card, one per family.

• The applicant must show proof of residence in a member community AND verification that they are a homeschooling family such as confirmation of withdrawal from the school district.
• Children who were never enrolled in a school as may be the case with many military families may provide a military ID or documentation deemed appropriate by the BCLS school liaison.

Unlike the Media Specialist card, this card is issued to the individual who is responsible for all materials charged to the account.

Employees of Burlington County who live in a non-participating municipality are not required to pay the annual fee. When applying for membership, these employees must provide appropriate identification and current proof of county employment.

In recognition of extraordinary and distinguished service to BCLS, certain individuals are granted special, lifelong membership status as BCLS Library Champions. In recognition of their public service, Burlington County Library Commissioners, Burlington County Commissioners, the Library Director, and the Burlington County Administrator shall automatically receive this distinction.

Others may be conferred this honor only by a resolution approved by the Library Commission. This membership status does not need to be renewed and can be revoked only by a vote of the Library Commission.

Full borrowing privileges are extended to all active military personnel stationed in Burlington County. The annual fee is waived for them and their immediate family members with proof of current address and active military status.

Any active military personnel deployed overseas shall be continually eligible for all BCLS services throughout their deployment if Burlington County remains the service member’s legal residence. Service members overseas may renew their library membership via email by contacting the Circulation Supervisor with proof of active military status, legal residence, and overseas assignment (State of Legal Residence Form-DD2058).

A limited access card may be issued to individuals living temporarily in participating municipalities. Examples of temporary residents include but are not limited to:

• Displaced nationals staying in the county with a host family.
• New residents waiting for proof of residence including military families.
• Nannies/Au Pairs who are employed by AND living with their card-eligible employer-family (this is different from babysitters).
• Individuals from outside the county acting as a caregiver for a card-eligible family member. For example: staying temporarily to care for a sick parent.
• Individuals from outside the lending area that are temporary residents and/or outpatients of group homes and treatment facilities that operate in the lending area.
• Those staying at temporary addresses (motels, churches etc.) due to loss of housing such as those experiencing homelessness.

The card provides full access to the library’s resources with the following parameters:

• Cards are valid for six months with one renewal granted. After one year, the card expires.
• All temporary card applicants must provide their temporary address. Those experiencing homelessness should do their best to provide an address affiliated with a church or motel where they may be residing or where they may be receiving aid. They may also provide documentation on letterhead from a case manager or other agent from a social services organization. An email and/or phone number from an organization may be substituted for an address.

BCLS works with third-party providers to facilitate access to digital content. On these platforms, cardholders may access digital materials for streaming or download to their personal devices.

Books, magazines, and audiobooks on Overdrive & Libby circulate for a pre-defined lending period similar to our print or physical collection and items are returned automatically on their due date. They are also eligible for automatic renewal as long as there are no holds on the items. 

Stream movies on Kanopy with 15 credits a month! Set parental controls and watch Kanopy Kids as well. 

• Check out the many online research resources we have available with your library card! 
• Check out select items from the New Jersey Room for genealogical studies.

Public computers are available at every library and provide access to the internet as well as Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

BCLS also provides guest access to its public computers to visitors who are ineligible for a library card.

At select locations, laptops may be borrowed for use on-site upon providing identification.

Please refer to the Internet and Computer Use Policy for more information about using library computers.