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How do I apply for a library card?
All California residents 18 years or older, or under the age of 18 with parent/legal guardian approval, have the right to apply for and use a San Diego County Library card, as long as they remain "customers in good standing."
To apply for a library card, customers 18 years of age or older must do the following:
1) Fill out an application, using your full legal name.
Solicitud para la Tarjeta de la Biblioteca
2) Bring the completed application to any San Diego County Library branch.
3) Present the following ID to staff at the time of application: Picture ID and verification of current address.
Customers without proper identification will not be issued a library card. Customers with the proper ID, but without verification of current address, will be limited to 2 items until they have verified their address.
For customers under 18 years old, the signature and picture ID of the parent/legal guardian are required. In order to sign as the responsible party for a minor's library card, parents/legal guardians must be "customers in good standing." Parents/legal guardians must be present at the time of application or renewal of library cards. With proper documentation, children who are married or have been emancipated will be issued library cards as adults.
The first library card is free to residents of California. The fee to replace any library card is $2.00. Cards expire every two years. Renewals are free and are done in person at any County library branch. To replace a lost card, the fee is $2.00. Lost cards should be reported immediately. You are responsible for any items checked out on your card.
San Diego County Library Card Application
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How do I renew items online?
Renewing library materials can be done in two ways:
1. From the home page of the San Diego County Library: click on the "Renew Materials" button (located under the "My Library Account" menu item) on the San Diego County Library home page. Then, login on the "My Library Account" page. Once you've logged in, click on the "Checked-Out Items" button to view the items you currently have checked-out.
2. From within the online library catalog: click on the "My Library Account" link. Once you've logged in, click on the "Checked-Out Items" button to view the items you currently have checked-out.
TIPS
• When typing in your library account number (i.e. barcode), the "0" in the number needs to be included. Also, there should be no spaces between the numbers.
• Once you have logged in to your account, click on the "Checked-Out Items" button. This will display the items you currently have checked out.
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Where can I return library materials?
Materials can be returned to any San Diego County Library branch.
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How do I request items online?
Library customers can place requests for library materials online if they are customers “in good standing.”
Once you have found an item you'd like to request, do the following:
• Click the "Request" button/"Request" link and complete the information requested on the screen.
• Click the "Submit" button to complete your request.
TIMESAVING TIP
If you will be requesting more than one item at a time, login to the "My Library Account" page first. Then, click on the "Search Catalog" button from within your library account. As long as you are logged in, you will not have to type in your library account number and PIN again.
ERROR MESSAGES
If you receive an error screen, please check with your local branch, so that a staff member can assist you.
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How long do I have to pick up requested materials?
Items are held for 10 days from the day the requested item is checked in at the pick up location (the branch you selected to have the item delivered to). E-mail and print notices are generated the same day or the following morning.
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How do I request materials from other library systems? (Inter-Library Loan or ILL)
If a book, video, or audiocassette is owned by one of the San Diego County Library branches, you may request this material be sent to your local branch. You may place your own request using the library catalog, or ask a library staff person to assist you in making the request. Requests may also be made online from home or office. (See How do I request items online? for further information). There is no charge for this service.
The library also offers a special service called Interlibrary Loan (or ILL) for books or periodical photocopies not owned by the San Diego County Library. SDCL does not charge for this service. However, the lending libraries may charge a fee.
• Identify other libraries across the nation which own the item you need. Borrow it for you (if available). Contact you when the item arrives.
• Return the item for you when the loan period is over.
Search Interlibrary Loan or ask library staff for more information about this service.
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How are request and overdue notices delivered, and how often?
Request notices are sent by e-mail (if a customer's account has an e-mail address) or by postal mail to San Diego County Library customers once requested item(s) have arrived at a library branch and are available for customers to pick up. Requested items are held in the branch for customers for 10 days.
Courtesy overdue notices are sent by email (if a customer's account has an email address) or by postal mail to San Diego County Library customers once an item has been overdue for more than 14 days. A second courtesy notice will be mailed when the item is 28 days overdue.
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What types of notices can be received through e-mail?
Three types of notices can be sent to customers through email:
• Request Notices (i.e. notification of when items you have requested have arrived at the branch).
• Courtesy Overdue Reminder Notices (i.e. courtesy reminders that library item(s) are soon to become overdue).
• Courtesy Overdue Notices (i.e. courtesy reminders that library item(s) are now overdue and are incurring fines.
If you would like to receive these notices in your email account, instead of through postal mail, you can set this up in your library account in the following ways:
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How do I add or change my e-mail address in "My Library Account"?
From the San Diego County Library (SDCL) online library catalog, do the following:
• CLICK on the "My Library Account" link from the library's web page or online library catalog. After you have typed in your library account number and PIN number for your account, CLICK the "Submit" button. CLICK on the "Modify Personal Info" button. TYPE your email address in the field. CLICK on the "Submit" button.
• Your email address has now been added to your library account. The above 3 types of notices will now be emailed to you, rather than sent to you in postal mail.
Or, you can contact your local library branch and staff will assist you with adding your email address to your library account.
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What are the library's return address and e-mail subject?
• Library's return address (for all notice types): Circ Email Notices [circadmin@dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us]. Please do not hit "reply" to e-mail notices sent to you, but use this address instead in addressing an email to the Circulation Department.
• Subject Headings for the Different Types of Email Notices
• Request Notices: "San Diego County Library item ready for pickup."
• Courtesy Overdue Reminder Notices: "San Diego County Library Courtesy Reminder."
• Courtesy Overdue Notices: "San Diego County Library First Overdue Reminder."
• Library's return address for NextReads newsletters: SDCL: San Diego County Library [csgpubsvc@sdcounty.ca.gov]
• SDCL Collection Development return address (in case staff need to contact you with questions about purchase suggestions submitted via SDCL's web form): [sdclpurch@gmail.com]
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Why am I not receiving my e-mail notices?
If you have already set up your library account with an e-mail address, the following are possible reasons you are not receiving your notices:
• Arrived at the library branch before the e-mail notice was sent: Sometimes customers happen to be at the branch just as their requested items have arrived at the library--before the email notice has had a chance to be sent.
• Incorrect e-mail address: Your e-mail address may not be correctly listed in your library account. You can check your e-mail address by doing the following:
• CLICK on the "My Library Account" link from the library's home page or online library catalog.
• After you have typed in your library account number and PIN number for your account, CLICK the "Submit" button.
• CLICK on the "Modify Personal Info" button.
• If your e-mail address is correct, CLICK the "Submit" button.
• If your e-mail address is incorrect, TYPE your email address in the field.
Then, CLICK on the "Submit" button.
• Your e-mail address has now been added to your library account.
• The PC you are using has an e-mail filter that is filtering out these e-mails: the above section What are the library's return address and e-mail subject? lists the library's e-mail return address, as well as the subject lines for the different notice e-mails. Please be sure to set the e-mail filter on your computer to accept these.
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Why am I not receiving my NextReads e-mail newsletters or subscription confirmation?
Legitimate email messages sometimes get caught and lost in spam filters. If this happens with your NextReads newsletters or subscription confirmation message, please try the following:
• Add "csgpubsvc@sdcounty.ca.gov" to your address book or contact list.
• Try moving the newsletter to your inbox from a spam or junk folder, or forwarding the newsletter to yourself.
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What volunteer opportunities are available, and what are the requirements?
• The minimum age to volunteer is 14.
Parents need to sign a parental permission form for
volunteers between the ages of 14 and 16.
• A background check is required of all volunteers.
Staff will do their best to match your interests and talents with current needs. Volunteers receive an orientation and training.
Expect a busy staff and sometimes unspoken, but always heartfelt thanks for your commitment to your community.
For further information and referral about the library's volunteer program, please contact your local branch library.
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