Frequently Asked Questions

Complete an application online or at a Library service desk, then provide verification of your Identity and Residency. Children of LF residents up to age 16 can get a card using their parent or guardian's information.

Add the library cards of your entire family to the Lake Forest Library app and they'll always be available on your device!

Verification Documents

Verifies BOTH Identity and Residency

• Driver's License with your current Lake Forest address
• State ID with your current Lake Forest address

Verifies Identity

• Driver's License or State ID
• Current School ID
• Passport

Verifies Residency

The document needs your current address and to be dated or postmarked within the past 90 days.

• Utility or phone bill
• Bank statement or pay stub
• Lease or real estate ownership or tax bill
• Homeowner's or renter's insurance policy
• Illinois Motor Vehicle Registration
• On-campus housing payment receipt
• Official mail from a government agency

If you haven't changed your library account password, it is the last 4 digits of your phone number.

Access additional help with logging in.

When you apply online for a library card, eligible applicants will receive an email with temporary card information.

Your temporary card provides 3 months of digital access to eBooks, streaming movies, databases, and more.

To activate your full borrowing privileges, please refer to the verification lists (Identity, Residency, Other Cards) and bring your documents to a service desk.

Verification Documents

Verifies BOTH Identity and Residency

• Driver's License with your current Lake Forest address
• State ID with your current Lake Forest address

Verifies Identity

• Driver's License or State ID
• Current School ID
• Passport

Verifies Residency

The document needs your current address and to be dated or postmarked within the past 90 days.

• Utility or phone bill
• Bank statement or pay stub
• Lease or real estate ownership or tax bill
• Homeowner's or renter's insurance policy
• Illinois Motor Vehicle Registration
• On-campus housing payment receipt
• Official mail from a government agency

If you forget your card when you visit the Library, we can likely use your driver's license or photo ID to look up your library account and check out items to you. We recommend you install the Lake Forest Library app and add your card there, then you'll always have your card with you!

Library cards expire after 3 years. To renew your card, we only need to re-verify your identity and residency, which can be done with an up-to-date driver's license or photo ID.

If you lose your card, let us know immediately. You can get a replacement card next time you visit the Library. We just need to verify your identity with a photo ID.

Caregivers of LF families, owners of LF businesses, City of Lake Forest employees, and Lake Forest College and out-of-town boarding students are eligible for cards.

Complete an application online or at a Library service desk, then provide verification of your Identity and Residency, as well as the additional information in the Other Cards list.

Verification Documents

Verifies BOTH Identity and Residency

• Driver's License with your current Lake Forest address
• State ID with your current Lake Forest address

Verifies Identity

• Driver's License or State ID
• Current School ID
• Passport

Verifies Residency

The document needs your current address and to be dated or postmarked within the past 90 days.

• Utility or phone bill
• Bank statement or pay stub
• Lease or real estate ownership or tax bill
• Homeowner's or renter's insurance policy
• Illinois Motor Vehicle Registration
• On-campus housing payment receipt
• Official mail from a government agency

Other Cards

Caregivers of Lake Forest families

• Employers must have an active Lake Forest Library card on file, and they can either give permission for their caregiver to use the employer’s card or be issued their own card.

Owners of Lake Forest businesses

• Verify your identity.
• Verify you own a business in Lake Forest using business letterhead or something else with your business address.
• Employees (who do not live in LF) are not eligible to get LF library cards. Business owners may set their own policy on whether their employees can use their business library card.

City of Lake Forest employees

• Verify your identity.
• Verify your employment by applying with your City of Lake Forest email address.
• City employee cards are good for 1 year. We can renew your card when you re-verify your identity and employment.

Lake Forest College students

• Verify your identity and residency. We also ask for your permanent home address when possible.
• Your card is active the beginning of fall semester through May 1 -and/or- the beginning of summer semester through July 31.
• To reactivate your card for the following semester, visit the Library to re-verify your identity and residency.

Lake Forest Academy boarding students

• Verify your identity with your school ID.

LF Principal/Admin requesting a school card  

• Request a school card by letter.
• Teachers (who do not live in LF) are not eligible to get LF library cards. Principals may set their own policy on whether their teachers can use the school library card.

Eligible Non-Residents

• If you live in a Lake Forest School District but are outside a library service area, you may purchase a Lake Forest Library card at the current non-resident rate.
• Check whether your address is within a library service area.
• Your Illinois school district determines what library serves you.

If you have a library card from another Illinois library, register it with us.

Visit a service desk and bring:

• your valid home public library card
• a current photo ID

We will contact your home library to confirm that your account is in good standing, then you will be able to borrow a majority of Lake Forest Library items as well as items from several area libraries in the CCS consortium.

Select items and services—such as eBooks and online resources, the Takeout Tech collection, and Media Lab appointments—are only available to LF residents. Check with your home library for similar collections and services available to you.