Proof of residency (driver's license, utility bill, current postmarked mail, etc.) is required before obtaining a library card.

Sterling City Residents
People who live within the city limits pay for library service through real estate taxes. Library cards can be issued to any family member living in the household as long as the person can write his or her name. Juvenile cards are given to students through 8th grade in order to obtain a parent's signature. Resident cards are valid for two years from the date of issuance.

Because all members of the family can own a library card with no additional fee, only the owner of the card can use that card. It cannot be swapped from one family member to another or loaned to a friend.

Non-Resident Patrons
Non-resident cards can be purchased by anyone living outside the taxing jurisdiction of the Sterling city limits for a cost of $50.00. This fee entitles each member of the family to have individual cards. The expiration date of the card is one year from the date the $50.00 was paid regardless of when each member received his or her card. Non-resident cards are now valid at nearly every public library in Illinois, but your home library (where you pay your non-resident fees) must be the one in the town where you pay school taxes.

Library law is written based on residency of citizens, not tax payers. For this reason, all policies are focused on the residents of Sterling. However, anyone living outside city limits but who owns property inside city limits may receive a free library card providing he or she supplies the library with a copy of a current paid tax receipt showing library taxes. This classification of patrons is referred to as "non-resident tax payers", and their card is good for one year just as with other non-residents. Cards can be issued to any family member living in the household as long as the person can write his or her name.

Reciprocal Borrowers
Anyone who is a resident or a non-resident who has paid the non-resident fee of a library district within the state of Illinois and has a current library card can use the Sterling Public Library provided their home library also honors our resident and non-resident cards. No expired card will be accepted from any reciprocal borrower including Rock Falls.

Student Use Cards
Student use cards are available for $10.00 for non-resident students who attend a preschool or K-8 classes within city limits. Student residency is determined by school attendance. These cards are for student use only and cannot be used by a parent, friend, or other family member. The library staff has the right to question any use of this card other than that for which it is intended. Student use cards are valid only at the Sterling Public Library.

Lost Cards
All lost cards can be replaced by paying a $1.00 non-refundable replacement fee.

Expired Cards
Expired resident and non-resident cards will be renewed at once. Reciprocal borrowers must renew their card at their home library before being renewed here. All expired cards must be returned to the library to be recycled. If a patron fails to return card, a $1.00 processing fee will be charged.