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Non-Resident Cards

Non-Resident cards may be issued by SWAN public libraries. The Illinois Administrative Code, Section 3050 provides rules for public library non-resident services and library cards. 

General Non-Resident guidelines

The Illinois State Library's Public Library Non-Resident Service Administrative Rules resource provides an overview of the administrative rules and history of non-resident card usage and issuance in Illinois. 

Public library boards have the authority to extend library use and services to non-residents for an annual fee. The fee must be at least be equal to the cost paid by residents for library use and services. Non-resident taxpayers, such as property owners do not need to pay an annual fee, but should follow the general guidelines for issuing Non-Resident cards.

General guidelines for issuing Non-Resident cards

  • Most libraries use their general patron profiles when issuing non-resident cards (e.g. XYZPATRON)
  • Expiration date is 1 year from date of issuing the card
  • User Category 3/Patron Type = NONRESDENT
  • Assess a fee at time card is issued matching the fee formula approved by your board.
    • This fee can be applied by adding a bill to the patron record, bill reason - NONRESID
    • The Non-Resident fee must be assessed annually each time the card is renewed

Paying Non-Resident cardholders are afforded the same borrowing and library use privileges as taxpaying patrons. From Section 3050.40 Option for Non-Resident Library Cards

A valid non-resident library card shall accord the non-resident cardholder all the services the issuing public library provides to its residents including reciprocal borrowing privileges.

Special case: Cards for Kids

3050.75 Cards for Kids program

The program is intended to provide library cards for students (K-12) who live in an unserved area. To qualify:

  1. The student's principal residence is not within a public library service area
    -and
  2. Students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches under the National School Lunch Program

Guidelines for issuing Non-Resident Cards for Kids card

  • Follow current library practices in place for issuing a non-resident card.
  • No fee is charged/collected.
  • When registering a non-resident, eligible for payment exemption Cards for Kids, code:
    • User Category 3/Patron Type = CARDS4KIDS

Libraries need to:

  1. Verify student is in an unserved area and is applying at the closest public library.
  2. Verify eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch (student must provide documentation from school/district). NOTE: some school districts have district-wide exemptions.

Special case: Disabled Veterans

3050.60 Non-Resident Fee Formula (Disabled Veterans) [See section d]

Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 70% who are exempt from paying property taxes on their primary resident, shall not be charged a non-resident fee.

Guidelines for issuing Non-Resident Disabled Veteran card

  • Follow current library practice for issuing a non-resident card.
  • No fee is charged/collected.
  • When registering a non-resident, eligible for payment exemption as disabled veterans, code:
    • User Category3/Patron Type = VETERAN_NF

Special case: Non-Resident Digital

3050.45 E-Resources to Non-Residents

The public library board of trustees may annually take action to offer nonresidents access to E-Resources, free of charge.

Policy recommendations (upon request from library)

  • User profile - NONRESDIG
  • Hold Limit = 0
  • Checkout Limit = 0 
  • Expiration = 1 year
  • Access to databases

Challenges and procedures

  • Most e-books, e-audiobooks, and some streaming services rely on circulation/checkout policies, so these digital resources may not be considered "digital" resources in this definition
  • Registration must be a manual process by library staff to ensure adherence to the closest public library offering such cards is followed.
  • As SWAN libraries currently issue nonresident library cards (See RAILS list of libraries offering nonresident cards), nonresidents are afforded the opportunity to E-Resources through existing nonresident card purchases based on formula and service areas. Therefore, this special case of non-resident cards, Non-Resident Digital, is not used by SWAN libraries.

Special Case: Non-Resident Under 18 (No Fee)

(Public Act 102-0843) 75 ILCS 16/30-55.60 Effective 5/13/2022

(1) Privileges and use...
(2) Residents of an area...
(3) A nonresident who...
(4) A nonresident in an unincorporated area in Illinois who is a student ...
The board may adopt regulations waiving the nonresident fee for persons under the age of 18.

Guidelines for issuing Non-Resident Under 18 (No Fee)

  • The local library Board has adopted the regulation.
  • Follow current library practices in place for issuing a non-resident card.
  • No fee is charged/collected.
  • When registering a non-resident under 18, eligible for payment exemption by local library Board approval, code:
    • User Category 3/Patron Type = UNDER18_NF

Libraries need to:

  • Verify non-resident is under 18.
  • Verify non-resident is in an unserved area and is applying at the closest public library.
  • Have written Board approval to waive nonresident fees for persons under the age of 18.