Register for a City library membership
A City library membership opens up a world of information and learning for you and your family. Your library card gives you access to any City library in Cape Town. Applying for a card is easy. Simply follow the steps below.
Choose your membership
We issue three types of library memberships. Choose the membership option that best suits your needs:
Residents
Library cards are free if you live in Cape Town, as your rates support the library. If you lose your card, though, you will have to pay R20 for a replacement card.
Non-residents
If you live outside the metropolitan boundaries, you may apply for a non-resident card. This is valid for a year. Please see our library tariff sheet at the end of this page for the annual fees for this card.
Temporary residents
Anyone residing in the Cape Town metropolitan area on a temporary basis, i.e. tourists or short-stay visitors, may apply for a temporary card permitting a maximum of seven items, limited to books or periodicals only, that is valid for a period of 6 months.
You can also apply for a temporary card that allows you to take out a maximum of ten items, limited to books or periodicals and three audiovisual items, also valid for a period of 6 months.
The fees for both temporary cards are available in our library services tariff sheet in the document downloads section below.
How to apply for membership
Step 1: Download and complete a
membership form.
membership for children
If you are applying for a membership card for a child who is younger than 17, you will need to sign their application form and bring along their identity document as well as your own when registering.
The form is also available at your
nearest library.
Step 2: Hand in your completed form and supporting documentation at your
nearest library for processing.
Make sure you have:
- your completed membership application form;
- a valid identity document (ID);
-
proof of your home address (for example, a utility bill)
- one or two references.
Borrowing rules
Our borrowing rules are standard across all types of memberships. Please refer to our
Borrowing Privileges Guideline.
Late returns are charged a penalty fee. See our tariff sheet below for late charges.
Online catalogue and book renewals
Use the
Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) to see what items we have in our collection and what each library has available. Library members can login to renew books and other loan items online, as well as create reading lists.
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