Discover more: Get a Library Card

Join almost 700,000 visitors to the Portland Public Library’s four locations and the PPL Bookmobile each year. To obtain your free library card, please visit any PPL location or a partner library with a photo ID and proof of current address. A list of partner libraries around the region can be found below.

If you have further questions, contact Lending Services at the Downtown Library by email at lending@portlib.org, or by phone at (207) 871-1700 x730.

Who can get a library card?

Free Library cards are available to:

• Residents and full-time students attending school (5 or older) in Portland or any town in the Southern Maine Library District (York County, Cumberland County, and part of Oxford County).
  • Southern Maine Library District towns [Click to Expand]

    Acton	Cundy’s Harbor	Limington	Scarborough
    Alfred	Denmark	Long Island	Sebago
    Arundel	Eliot	Lovell	Shapleigh
    Baldwin	Falmouth	Lyman	South Berwick
    Bar Mills	Freeport	Naples	South Portland
    Berwick	Fryeburg	New Gloucester	Springvale
    Biddeford	Gorham	North Berwick	Standish
    Bridgton	Gray	North Bridgton	Steep Falls
    Brownfield	Harpswell	Ocean Park	Waterboro
    Brunswick	Harrison	Ogunquit	Wells
    Buxton	Hiram	Old Orchard Beach	Westbrook
    Cape Elizabeth	Hollis	Orr’s Island	Windham
    Cape Porpoise	Kennebunk	Parsonsfield	Yarmouth
    Casco	Kennebunkport	Portland	York
    Chebeague Island	Kittery	Raymond
    Cornish	Lebanon	Saco
    Cumberland	Limerick	Sanford

• Individuals listed as property taxpayers in Portland
• Individuals working in Portland (expires after one year, but may be renewed)

…others may purchase a card ($20 per year). Patrons of other libraries may borrow PPL materials for free via interlibrary loan.

Where can I get a library card?

• Drop by any physical PPL location
• Or visit one of our partner libraries around the region:
  • View Our Partner Libraries [Click to Expand]

    Acton Public Library	Maine Medical Center Library
    Baxter Memorial Library (Gorham)	Martha Sawyer Comm Library (Lebanon)
    Berry Memorial Library (Bar Mills)	McArthur Public Library (Biddeford)
    Berwick Public Library	Merrill Memorial Library (Yarmouth)
    Bonney Memorial Library (Cornish)	Naples Public Library
    Bridgton Public Library	New Gloucester Public Library
    Brown Memorial Library (E. Baldwin)	Parsons Memorial Library (Alfred)
    Buxton Library	Prince Memorial Library (Cumberland)
    Casco Public Library	Raymond Village Library
    Cundy’s Harbor Public Library	Rice Public Library (Kittery)
    Curtis Memorial Library (Brunswick)	Sanford High School Library
    Dyer Library (Saco)	Scarborough Public Library
    Falmouth Memorial Library	Soldiers Memorial Library (Hiram)
    Fogg Library (Eliot)	South Berwick Public Library
    Fryeburg Public Library	South Portland Public Library
    Goodall Memorial Library (Sanford)	Spaulding Memorial Library (Sebago)
    Graves Mem’l Library (Kennebunkport)	Springvale Public Library
    Harrison Village Library	Walker Memorial Library (Westbrook)
    Hobbs Memorial Library (Lovell)	Waterboro Public Library
    Hollis Center Library	Wells Public Library
    Kaplan University Library (So Portland)	Westbrook High School Library
    Kennebunk Free Library	Windham High School Library
    Libby Memorial Library (Old Orchard Beach)	Windham Public Library
    Limerick Public Library	York Public Library

What do I need to get a library card?

Adults may apply for a Library card with a photo ID with your name and current address (or a photo ID and a document showing your name and current address). For more information, email lending@portlib.org or call (207) 871-1700 x731.

Teens (13-18) may get their own library cards using a variety of documents such as school ID, school schedule, or club ID to prove identification.

Children (5-12) must be accompanied by a parent to get a card. The parent must show either their own PPL library card or the same identification as an adult. Parents are responsible for all materials borrowed on a child’s card.

How do I update the contact information in my record?

Update your card with a new address, phone number, or other information by accessing your patron account online or email lending@portlib.org or phone 871-1700 x731 and we will help you.

What if I lose my card?

Report a lost card to the Library as soon as possible. Email lending@portlib.org or phone 871-1700 x731 and we will help you. There is no replacement fee. You are responsible for all materials borrowed with your card until you report it lost or stolen.

Maine Reciprocal Borrowing

The Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program allows you to use your library card at almost 70 other libraries throughout Maine. For more information, see the information pages at the Maine State Library.