Library Cards
A free Poughkeepsie Public Library District card is available to all people who live, work, own property, or attend school in the City or Town of Poughkeepsie with proof of identification and status. Your card allows you to borrow materials from the Poughkeepsie Public Library District or in the Mid-Hudson Library System. It also allows you access to the many digital resources the Library District provides. Your library card is renewable every two years; your card expiration date can be found under your Library Account that you can access by clicking the My Account button on the top of our webpage.
We expect you to have your library card when in the library and we reserve the right to require you to present it for any library services. Further, we reserve the right to suspend your borrowing privileges if your account balance from fines and fees is $5.00 or more.
Please note that you are responsible for all items checked out on your card. Call the Library District immediately if your card is lost or stolen. Treat your library card like a credit card. First card replacement is $1; each subsequent replacement card is $5.
Fill out and submit the form below and within 1-2 business days you will receive an email with your library card number and temporary PIN. This library card number and PIN can be used to access all of our e-Library including eBooks, downloadable audio books, streaming videos, and databases without having to come to the Library! If you want to check out any physical items or visit other libraries in Mid-Hudson Library System, you will need your physical Library Card. Simply visit the check-out desk at the branch you designated in the form below with valid photo ID and address verification. An example of address verification can be an envelope (recently postmarked) with your current address, such as a utility bill. If you are new to the area and your photo ID doesn’t have your current address, please bring two pieces of mail with your current address.
You can check your Library Account to see what you have out, any fines you owe, renew items, and items you have on hold by clicking the My Account button on the top of the webpage. Sign into your Library Account with your library card barcode and pin.
Text Messaging is Here!
Do you want to get your library notifications by text? Opt in today!
To get started:
- Login to your library account.
- Choose “Edit Account” button (you may be asked to re-enter your library barcode and pin for security purposes.)
- Enter your mobile number
- Check the box to Opt in
- Click SUBMIT to save the Change
- A text will arrive soon asking you to reply “YES” to confirm that you wish to receive texts from the library
Please note:
The text is automated – sorry, you won’t reach us with a reply. Contact us at 845-485-3445 x 3702
The text notice is in addition to the regular notification, so we still send the email or phone message
You will get message for each:
- Item to pick up
- Item soon due or renewed
- Item overdue
- Books (including browsing), audio books, magazines, Nooks (no renewals) – 21 days
- DVDs, videos, music CDs, games – 7 days
- Downloadable audio books, ebooks – 7 or 14 days
- Homework/seasonal materials may have limits due to demand.
- Patrons may have a maximum of twenty-five (25) total items out at any given time. Of the 25, patrons may only have a total of ten (10) media items out at one time.
- New patrons may only have five (5) items out at a time for the first six (6) months of having a new card or registering after a lapse.
- Renewals and reserves may be done in person, by phone, or in your library account.
- Auto Renewal is a feature which renews eligible items that are checked out to patrons in good standing, in an automated process, using Courtesy Notices. Two days before the item is due, the patron will receive an email notice to inform them that their item has been renewed and will now be due at a later date. If an item cannot be renewed, a courtesy notice will still be sent with a reminder that the item is due. Only items that are already eligible for renewal can be automatically renewed. View Auto Renewal FAQs.
- Books, audio books, magazines – 10 cents per day per item
- DVDs, videos, interlibrary loans – $1 per day per item
- Music CDs, games – 25 cents per day per item
- Maximum fine, per item – $10
- Unclaimed holds – $1 per item
- Lost or damaged materials – replacement cost (includes processing)
- Library of Things items: $20 fine if returned to Bookdrop (plus damages); $5 late fee per day; replacement cost if lost or not returned.
- MAP Passes: $5.00 per day fine; (okay to use drop box after closing time). If not returned within one week, pass is considered lost, and a replacement cost fined.
- Fines and bills may be paid in person with cash, check, or credit card. You may pay online through your library account.
- Account with balances of $25 and over may be referred to collections.
- Fines and fees schedule is subject to change.
Library Elf is like a free, personal assistant, whose task is to help with keeping track of what one has on loan from the library.
Designed with the busy or avid library user in mind, Elf is ideal for families with multiple library cards or for individuals (writers, researchers, students, readers, etc.) who have cards from different libraries.
Elf makes it easier to keep track of what’s due, overdue or ready for pickup from one or more library accounts. Users have the option to consolidate their library accounts into one account if they wish. This account is checked everyday and email notices are sent when items are coming due, overdue or when holds are ready for pickup. As well, get up-to-date realtime information by browser.