- Lake Forest residents, 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.
- When you apply online, eligible applicants will receive an email with temporary card information, which provides 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.
- Children up to age 16 can get a card using their parent or guardian's information.
- If you lose your card, let us know immediately. You can get a replacement card next time you come in. We just need to verify your identity with a photo ID.
- Library cards expire after 3 years. To renew your card, we only need to re-verify your identity and residency. Refer to the verification lists.
- Add the library cards of your entire family to the Lake Forest Library app and they'll always be available on your device!
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 Lake Forest address and to be dated or postmarked within the past 90 days.)
- Illinois Motor Vehicle Registration
- Utility or phone bill
- Official mail from a government agency
- Bank statement
- Pay stub
- Homeowner's or renter's insurance policy
- Lease or real estate ownership or tax bill
- On-campus housing payment receipt
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
- We need to verify your identity and residency. We also like to have your permanent home address on file when possible.
- Your card is active ...
The beginning of fall semester to May 1
and/or
the beginning of summer semester to July 31.
- To reactivate your card for the following semester, visit the Library to re-verify your identity and residency (refer to the verification lists).
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
- May purchase a card for $684.83. (May 2025–April 2026)
- Check whether your address is within a library service area.
- Your school district determines what library serves you.
In addition to borrowing a majority of Lake Forest Library items, you can also borrow items from several other 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.