FAQs • Irving, TX • CivicEngage

I thought libraries were supposed to offer free access to all?: It does not cost anything to visit the library. Everyone is welcome to visit, attend programs, ask questions, and use the materials within the library regardless of where they live. However, in order to checkout items, access our online resources or use computers, non-residents will have to purchase a Full Access Card for an annual fee of $40 or a Computer Access Card for an annual fee of $10. People living outside the City of Irving will continue to have access to their city libraries at no cost to them, and they may choose to purchase an Irving Public Library card as a value-added service.

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Nonresident Library Cards

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1. Why has this begun? I've never had to pay for library card from Irving Public Library before.: Residents of the City of Irving support the Irving Public Library through their taxes. The non-resident fee offsets the cost to serve non-residents.

2. Who is eligible to receive a free Irving Public Library card?: City of Irving residents and City of Irving employees will not be required to pay a fee for an Irving Public Library card. Residency within the City of Irving is determined by the address provided at the time you sign up for a new card or renew your library card.

3. What does a non-resident library card cost?: A Full Access Card with checkout and computer privileges costs $40. The Computer Access Card for 1 year of computer use only costs $10 and has a maximum of two sessions per day.

4. Is this fee a one-time fee or a yearly fee?: The non-resident fee is an annual, non-refundable fee. The fee will be paid each year when your card expires.

5. How did I get a non-resident card?: Customers can get a non-resident card at any Irving Public Library location. Customers cannot be registered online or over the phone at this time.

6. What do I get when I purchase a non-resident Full Access Card?: A full-access non-resident card entitles you to the same privileges as a resident library cardholder. You have access to more than a million books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, audiobooks, eBooks and downloadable audiobooks. A Full Access Card allows for checkout of up to 50 items per card. You can utilize the library's electronic resources, including online databases and streaming video, and use the library's public computers that are equipped with Internet and Microsoft Office products.

7. What do I get when I purchase a non-resident Computer Access Card?: A Computer Access Card entitles you to use the public computers equipped with Internet and Microsoft Office products at any Irving Public Library location. You may have up to two sessions a day and sessions can be up to 90 minutes in length. This card does not include checkout privileges or use of online subscription databases, streaming videos, or downloadable media.

8. What libraries can I use the non-resident card at?: An Irving Public Library card is available for use at any of the Irving library locations.

9. I thought libraries were supposed to offer free access to all?: It does not cost anything to visit the library. Everyone is welcome to visit, attend programs, ask questions, and use the materials within the library regardless of where they live. However, in order to checkout items, access our online resources or use computers, non-residents will have to purchase a Full Access Card for an annual fee of $40 or a Computer Access Card for an annual fee of $10. People living outside the City of Irving will continue to have access to their city libraries at no cost to them, and they may choose to purchase an Irving Public Library card as a value-added service.

10. What is the library going to do with this money?: The library will use the funds generated from non-resident privilege fees to supplement its current budget in order to continue providing excellent quality services and programs to the public.

11. Is the library going to charge for anything else?

The library charges customers for a few things, including:

Lost or damaged materials, as well as a collection agency referral fee for delinquent accounts that are 75 days past due
A processing fee is added to items that are lost or have to be replaced
Printing from the computers or copiers is 20 cents per black and white page, 50 cents for color
The library's public faxing service charges $1 per page sent.
Reserving meetings rooms to host for-profit organization meetings cost $75 for each 4-hour period
Reserving meeting rooms to host non-profit organization meetings cost $25 for each 4-hour period

12. If I don't live in the City of Irving, where can I get free library services?: A non-resident may check with their local city library or home library for free library services.

13. How do I pay the non-resident fee? Do you take debit/credit cards, money order, checks or cash only?: The library accepts cash, check, money orders, or debit / credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, or Discover.

14. Is there a monthly payment plan?: Monthly payment plans are not available for non-resident card fees.

15. Is there a household card or will I have to pay a fee to get each child a card?: All non-resident customers including children must pay the non-resident fee associated with each card obtained. There is no discount for families or households.

16. Can I pay discounted amount and check out less or only get one computer session a day?: No discounts or limited privileges are provided. There are free or low cost options for non-residents, such as TexShare cards, which have a 5 item check out limit, and $5 one month computer cards that expire after 30 days.

17. Is there a short-term option for Computer Access Cards? Can I get a day pass for computer use?: The library does not offer day-passes. The library does offer free TexShare cards (with a 5-item check out limit) and $5 computer cards that are good for one month and renewable.

18. Why is the fee so high for non-resident cards?: The fees are comparable to the tax revenue collected from current residents of Irving. A library card is the best bargain around at less than $4 a month, and it can cover an entire household for a year. The non-resident fees at Irving Public Library are actually lower than most other libraries in the surrounding DFW area that charge non-resident fees.

19. Do other organizations in the city charge for non-residents fees?: Yes. Currently the City of Irving Parks and Recreation Department recreation centers and swimming facilities do charge a different rate for services to non-residents.

20. I own property in the City of Irving, but do not reside in the city. Can I get a free library card?: Yes, you can get a card by presenting proof of property ownership at the time your register for your card. Your first card is free.

21. I have a P.O. Box in Irving, but live elsewhere. Do I have to pay a non-resident fee?: The library does not accept P.O. Box addresses as an acceptable address identification.

22. Can I share my non-resident card with family members?: The cardholder or customer may certainly choose to allow a family member or someone else to use their library card to checkout items, however, the cardholder is still responsible for the library card including all materials checked out. Cards cannot be shared for computer use. The cardholder is responsible for promptly reporting that the card is lost or stolen.

23. What if I am a non-resident, but my child's father is a resident? Would my child need to get a non-resident card?: Residency of a child is based on the address identification provided at the time of registration. If the address ID that is presented is not in Irving, then the parent's card and the child's card are considered non-resident. It is in the child's best interest to get a library card with the parent, or guardian, that is a resident of Irving.

24. If I live in another city but go to school in Irving, can I get a free library card?: Students in grades 6 to 12 attending a school in Irving can sign up for the Student Card, which allows use of library computers and checking out digital material including eBooks, streaming music and movies. Visit the Student Card page for details. If the student wants to check out print material, they will need to purchase a Non-Resident Library Card. IPL Student Card

25. I am a teacher for Irving ISD, but I don't live in Irving. Will I have to pay for a non-resident card?: Irving ISD Teachers qualify for a special Teacher Card that is free. If unable to meet the qualifications for this program, then yes, all non-residents even though they work in Irving, must pay the non-resident privilege fee for a library card. Another option is to ask the school that you work to apply for a corporate card for free and which has a limit of four per organization. You may checkout items as long as you present the card at the time of checkout. View information about a corporate card and the application.

26. If I work in the City of Irving, do I need to pay the non-resident fee?: Yes. All customers that are not able to provide an appropriate address identification that shows Irving as the city of residence will have to pay the non-resident privilege fee. Organizations and businesses with a location in Irving may sign up for a library Corporate Card for employees to access electronic resources and check out items.

27. If I work for the City of Irving, do I need to pay the non-resident fee?: A City of Irving employee will be exempt from paying the non-resident fee. Spouses and children of employees are not exempt from the non-resident privilege fee, however, an employee cardholder can checkout resources for family members.

28. I have a TexShare card. Do I have to pay for a non-resident card?: If a customer presents a TexShare card from their home library, from the library in the city where they live, they may receive a Texshare card from Irving Public Library which allows five items to be checked out including up to two DVDs. For more information, check out the TexShare program.

29. I'm homeless. Do I have to pay for a card?: A homeless person must still show proof of address in order to obtain a library card. If proof of address showing residency or non-residency cannot be obtained due to extenuating circumstances, the homeless person may speak to librarian or supervisor to make alternate arrangements that allow access to public computers. Checkout privileges will not be granted unless the address identification is presented.

30. You have to have a library card to volunteer. So, do I have to pay for a non-resident card to volunteer my time?: Yes, all non-residents that wish to get a card for whatever purpose must pay the non-resident fee.

31. Is the non-resident card good for unlimited checkouts?: All new Full Access Cards have a 90-day restricted checkout of 10 items. After 90 days, if the cardholder has maintained the account in good standing, he or she may upgrade the card to the 50 item-checkout limit. There is no additional cost to upgrade.

32. Why am I limited in items I can checkout for the first three months with my new non-resident card if I paid for it?: All new Full Access Cards for both residents and non-residents have a 90-day restricted checkout limit. If the account is not maintained in good standing for the 90 days previous but is currently in good standing, it may be renewed with that same restricted checkout limit. This may mean a customer is at restricted checkout for longer than the 90 days until the account can be upgraded according to Irving Public Library policy.

33. Can I still put items on hold with a non-resident card?: Yes, a Full Access Card with checkout privileges does allow a customer to place holds.

34. Can I still do InterLibrary Loans with a non-resident card?: No, Irving Public Library is restricting ILL privileges to Irving residents only. Non-resident library cardholders will need to initiate ILL requests through their home library.

35. Can I checkout a study room or reserve a meeting room without a card or do I need a non-resident card to use a room?: A library card is required for use of any study room or meeting room.

36. Do I have to pay a non-resident fee to be able to use downloadable media, eBooks, or subscription databases?: Irving Public Library offers an electronic-only eCard specifically for non-residents located in Texas. The eCard allows non-residents to borrow eBooks and other digital downloads, and access its database services. The fee for the eCard is $40 per year.

37. Do I have to pay to use Irving Public Library’s wireless connection?: No, currently the library’s wireless Internet access is free to all library visitors.

38. What can I do for free at the library without a library card?: It does not cost anything to visit the library. Everyone is welcome to visit, attend programs, ask questions and use the materials within the library, regardless of where they live.

39. How will the non-resident policy be implemented?

New Customers: Starting on November 1, 2012, when applying for a new library card, a customer that is not a resident of the City of Irving must:

Present a photo ID and an address identification
Pay the appropriate fee, depending on the card type desired

Existing Customers: Cards for all current Irving Public Library cardholders that are not residents of Irving will expire on October 31, 2012. Starting on November 1, 2012, a customer that is not a resident of the City of Irving who wishes to renew or replace their library card must:

Present a photo ID and an address identification
Pay the appropriate fee, depending on the card type desired

40. How will this affect residents?: All library cards, resident and non-resident, will expire annually. Customers will need to bring their library card, photo ID, and acceptable address identification to renew their cards and continue using the library's resources. All new customers will need to bring a photo ID and acceptable address identification to obtain a Full Access Card or a Computer Access Card. Residents without an address identification can purchase a Computer Access Card for $10.

41. What do I need to get a full access non-resident card?: To get a full access non-resident card, customers will need to present two forms of acceptable identification: a photo ID and an address identification. View the ID Requirements (PDF) for more information. At the time of registration, a non-resident fee of $40 must be paid in full by the customer.

42. What do I need to get a computer access non-resident card?: To get a computer access non-resident card, customers will need to present a current photo ID. At the time of registration, a non-resident computer card fee of $10 must be paid in full by the customer. There is also an option for a $5 card that is good for 1 month.