Library Card FAQs

  • General Questions

    Library cards are free to anyone who provides valid form of identification, proof of address, and date of birth. Santa Clara County District Libraries are located in the following cities: Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos (2 locations), Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Saratoga.

    Join! Free Full-Membership Library Card

    Patrons who provide photo identification and date of birth but who cannot provide proof of current home or mailing address are eligible for a limited access card. A limited card allows for borrowing of up to 3 items, 3 requests, and is valid for one year. A limited card can be converted to a full access card by providing proof of photo id, date of birth, and proof of current home or mailing address.

    Learn more about full-access and limited-access library cards.

    • If you already have a full-access library card, you do not need a Library eCard.
    • A full-access library card can be used to access both our digital and physical collections. It allows you to check out printed books, magazines, console games, CDs, DVDs, and more.
    • A full-access library card also allows you to reserve and use public computers at library locations. 
    • If you have a Library eCard, you have the option to convert it to a Full-Membership Library Card at the Accounts Desk, during a visit to the library.
     

    Library eCard

    Full-Access Library Card

    eContent

    Download or stream eBooks, audiobooks, movies, documentary films, music, newspapers, and magazines. Place hold on eContent.

    Yes Yes

    Research & Homework

    Access digital magazine & newspaper archives, genealogy tools, professional magazines, and scholarly journals. 

    Yes Yes

    Learn 24/7

    Enroll in an online course, get help from a live tutor, learn a new language, take a practice test, or access LinkedIn Learning.

    Yes Yes

    Physical Collections

    Check out printed books, magazines, console games, CDs and DVDs. Place holds on physical items.

      Yes

    Library Computers

    Reserve and use public computers at library locations. 

      Yes

    Visitors to the library who do not have an SCCLD library card are invited to register for a free full use or limited use card to access materials, resources and services the Library has to offer, including the public computers. Guest passes are for those patrons who do not qualify for or do not want a library card, but wish to use a public computer or to print to the MFD. Single use guest passes are free and available at the children’s and adult information desks. Guest passes will be issued one per patron per day and allow up to 3 hours of computer use per day, the same as a patron logging in with their library card. Patrons are required to follow the rules for computer usage set by SCCLD.

    The Library offers free wireless access with no library card needed.  Printing wirelessly to our printers requires a library card.  Visit our computer services page to learn more about library computer services, or our Wi-Fi page to learn more about the SCCLD wireless network. 

    Join! Free Full-Membership Library Card

  • Notifications

    • Call the Accounts team Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm at 408-540-3945.
    • Visit your local library's Accounts desk during open hours.
    • Use the online form to update your notification preferences.

    No, only one type of notice can be selected (ex. SMS, email).

    Notifications are for physical materials (ex. book) and include the following:

    • Hold notice
    • Hold reminder sent 4-5 days after the hold notice, if the hold hasn't been picked up
    • Due date reminder sent several days prior to the due date
    • Courtesy due notification sent the day the item is due, if it is not able to be renewed
    • Overdue notice sent 1 week after the due date, and again 2 weeks, later if not returned
    • Autorenewal success notification
      • If items are not eligible for autorenewal, a courtesy due notification for those items will be sent
    • Billing notification

    No, SMS notices are delivered once a day, around 9:30am.

    The SMS notice has generic wording with a link for more information. The link takes you to a page with detailed item information.

    The SMS notice comes from a dedicated local number: 408-539-5181.

    • Call the Accounts team Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm at 408-540-3945.
    • Visit your local library's Accounts desk during open hours.
    • Use the online form to update your notification preferences.

    Please Note: If you opt out of receiving SMS notifications and you have an email on file, you will receive email notifications.

    If you text back to the SMS number, you will receive the following message:

    • Have questions or need help? Text SCCLD at 833-209-6600. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to this message to unsubscribe.

    If you call the SMS number, your call will forward automatically to the Santa Clara County Library account line 408-540-3945.