Become a Member - Get a library card!
Join almost 400,000
visitors at the Main Library and our three neighborhood branches each
year. Most services are available in-person and online. Contact any branch
location or Lending
Services at the Main Library at (207) 871-1700 x730 for further information.
Free library cards are
available to:
 Residents of
the Southern Maine
Library District including
Cumberland, York, and parts of Oxford counties (5 years of age & up)
Full-time
students attending schools in these counties
Individuals
listed as property taxpayers in Portland
Individuals
working in Portland
Note: Others may purchase a card ($20 per
year). Patrons of other libraries may
borrow PPL materials for free via interlibrary
loan.
Apply for a card
...
at the Lending Services Desk at any branch. Show photo identification with your
current name and address (or two non-photo IDs), complete the application, and sign the
responsibility statement. You can use your card immediately!
You may also apply for a card at any
of our PALs (PArtner Libraries) locations within the Southern Maine
Library District (NOTE: PALs cards take 7-10 days to be activated):
- Acton Memorial Library
- Baxter Memorial Library (Gorham)
- Berry Memorial Library (Bar Mills)
- Berwick Public Library
- Bonney Memorial Library (Cornish)
- Bridgton Public Library
- Brown Memorial Library (E. Baldwin)
- Casco Public Library
- Cundy's Harbor Public Library
- Curtis Memorial Library (Brunswick)
- Dyer Library (Saco)
- Falmouth Memorial Library
- Fogg Library (Eliot)
- Freeport Community Library
- Fryeburg Public Library
- Goodall Memorial Library (Sanford)
- Graves Memorial Library (Kennebunkport)
- Harrison Village Library
- Hobbs Memorial Library (Lovell)
- Hollis Center Library
- Kaplan University Library (South Portland)
- Kennebunk Free Library
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- Limerick Public Library
- Martha Sawyer Community Library (Lebanon)
- McArthur Public Library (Biddeford)
- McAuley High School Library (Portland)
- Merrill Memorial Library (Yarmouth)
- Naples Public Library
- New Gloucester Public Library
- Parsons Memorial Library (Alfred)
- Prince Memorial Library (Cumberland)
- Rice Public Library (Kittery)
- Soldiers Memorial Library (Hiram)
- South Berwick Public Library
- South Portland Public Library
- Spaulding Memorial Library (Sebago)
- Springvale Public Library
- Walker Memorial Library (Westbrook)
- Waterboro Public Library
- Wells Public Library
- Westbrook High School Library
- Windham Public Library
- York Public Library
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To
update a card ... with your new address, phone number, or
other information, contact the Lending Services Desk at any branch, with your
library card number in hand.
To replace ... a
lost, stolen, or damaged card, visit the Lending Services Desk ASAP with your
identification and replacement fee ($0.50 for children under twelve; $1.00
for others). You are responsible for all materials borrowed with your
card until you report it as lost or stolen.
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Guidelines for borrowing
and using public computers
With your card, borrow books,
pamphlets, government documents, audiobooks, movies, music, games, and
magazines, and use the Library's public computers.
| Item
Type |
Max
# |
Loan
Period |
Renewals
Allowed** |
Overdue
Fees |
| Books |
6 items/
topic |
3 weeks |
twice
(3 weeks) |
Adult's
item: 25¢/day
Children's item: 10¢/day |
| Audio |
6 items |
3 weeks |
twice
(3 weeks) |
Adult's
item: 25¢/day
Children's item: 10¢/day |
| CDs |
6 items |
3 weeks |
twice
(3 weeks) |
Adult's
item: 25¢/day
Children's item: 10¢/day |
| Videos/DVDs
|
6 items |
7 days |
twice
(7 days) |
Adult's
item: $1.00/day
Children's item: $.50/day |
| Videogames |
1 item |
7 days |
twice
(7 days) |
Adult's
item: $1.00/day
Children's item: $.50/day |
| MaineCat
Item (from other Maine libraries) |
local
library rules |
3 weeks |
once
(7 days) |
varies |
| Magazines (primarily
Childrens
& Branches) |
varies |
varies |
varies |
Adult's
item: 25¢/day
Children's item: 10¢/day |
Return items ... to any branch or into the book drops
located at each location. Items returned after closing will be checked
in on the next business day.
Renew items ...
in-person, by phone, or online. 
Most items can be renewed twice if there
is no one waiting on hold. If you owe more than $10.00 on your record, to
renew you must speak with a Lending Services staffperson by
phone at 871-1700 *3 or in person (not online).
Please
note: For items with a 3-week loan period, you may renew
anytime after the first week you have it out. However, the renewed due
date will always be 3 weeks from the renewal date, not from the original
due date. Similarly, you may renew videos with a 7-day loan period
after the first four days, and the renewed due date will be calculated
from the renewal date.
Request /
ILL / Hold
items ... that are currently available, on-order, checked-out, located at
another branch, or owned by another library. All of these requests can
be made in-person at any branch or online. For
complete information, click here.
Overdue fees ... are calculated
on open days only, up to a $10.00 maximum. Any patron who owes more than $10.00
on their record may
not borrow or renew materials, or use public computers, until the fine is
paid. If an item is not returned or is returned damaged, the
Library may bill you for its retail value plus a $10 processing fee.
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Services for Special Needs
Outreach services ... are available to Portland residents who
cannot come to a library facility due to illness or disability. Contact Outreach
Services, (207) 871-1700 x717 for more information.
Talking Books service ... is available to all Maine residents
who are unable to read conventional print materials. Sponsored by the
Library of Congress and administered by the Maine State Library in
Augusta. Contact the Maine
State Library for more information.
Building access assistance
...
includes automatic doors, ramps, audio-assisted elevators, and
compliance with ADA standards. Special services include large print and audiobook materials. For further
information, contact Research
& Information Services at (207)
871-1700 x725.
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