Borrowing Privileges

• You live in one of the following school districts (or own property or a business located in these districts):

  • Griffith Public Schools	• Hanover Community School Corporation	• Highland School Town	• Hobart School City	• Lake Central School Corporation
  • Lake Ridge Schools	• Lake Station Community Schools	• Merrillville Community School	• Munster School Town	• River Forest Community School Corporation

  Not sure? Check our map to see all the library districts of Lake County or enter your address here (Use the Search by Address tab) to see which library district you pay taxes to.

• You have priority access to materials at all 9 of our locations as well as full digital access (ebooks, audiobooks, music, research databases, etc).

• You have limited privileges at some other public libraries in Lake County and other Indiana counties. Please check with staff for details.

• You live in a district which pays taxes to another library system, or you are a non-resident teacher or student, or your card has been issued to a business or institution, not to an individual.

• You have limited borrowing privileges at the Lake County Public Library, but may upgrade your card to Full Access. Here's how it works:

• Upgrading costs $44/year

• You get complete access to all of our materials

• You can check out up to 50 items at a time, including more DVDs

• You can use our inter-library loan services and make purchase requests

What Can I Borrow If:

I live in Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago, Gary, Crown Point, or Lowell OR I live in Indiana and my library participates in Statewide Borrowing.

I don't live in your library district, but I teach in the library district.

I go to school in your library district, but live in a different district.

If you are not sure which is your home library district, take a look at this map of the seven library districts in Lake County.
You can also enter your address here to see which library district you pay taxes to (use the Search by Address tab).

Recognizing the importance of volunteers and their service, the Lake County Public Library presents special "fine free" library cards.

Adult Gold Cards

Volunteers (18 years or older) who complete 100 hours of service will earn a Gold Card. The Gold Card may only be used by the named cardholder and not by any other family member.

Juvenile Silver Cards

Juvenile volunteers (under the age of 18) who complete 50 hours of volunteer service will earn a Silver Card. The Silver Card may only be used by the named cardholder and not by any other family member. The card will expire on the 18th birthday of the cardholder but can be renewed annually as long as the volunteer is actively volunteering. The Silver cardholder has until his/her 21st birthday to earn the additional 50 volunteers hours to convert to a Gold card.

Gold and Silver Cardholders' Responsibilities

• Do not lend card to family members or friends.

• Use your card (library purges all library cards after three years with no use).

• Renew or return materials if you receive an overdue notice.

• Pay for lost or damaged materials when you are billed.

• Follow the Library's Code of Conduct.

Failure to follow the above could result in loss of your special library card privileges.