Library Card FAQs

  • General Questions

    You can sign up for a library card online or at your community library.

    You are eligible for a Sno-Isle Libraries card if any of the following statements apply to you:

    • Residents of the Sno-Isle Libraries District and their dependents. The district's service area is unincorporated Snohomish or Island counties, or a city or town that contracts with or is annexed to Sno-Isle Libraries.
    • Residents of other jurisdictions within Washington State that provide equitable tax support for public library service.
    • Non-resident payers of property taxes of the Sno-Isle Libraries District and their dependents.

    To sign up for a library card, you will need to provide your name, home address, mailing address (if applicable), phone number, email address, and birth date. Contact us if you would like to sign up for a library card without providing your birth date.

    An email address is required when registering for an account online. If registering at your community library, an email address is not required.

    Proof of identity is required to get a physical library card, which includes the ability to check out physical materials. Examples of acceptable proof of identity include a driver's license or state ID, passport, work badge, utility bill, or any piece of mail received at your home address within the past year. Contact us or visit your community library for additional options if you are unable to provide proof of identity.

    Your library card number is the 14-digit number printed on the back of your library card. If you have an online library card, your number will be emailed to you after complete your card registration.

    You can access a digital version of your barcode number in the Sno-Isle Libraries app. Just tap the card icon in the upper right-hand corner of the Home screen.

    Contact us or visit your community library to update, renew, or replace your card.

    Library cards expire every five years.

    Teachers in private and public schools, preschools, and daycares are eligible to sign up for a teacher card. This provides access to physical materials and digital resources. Only one teacher card may be issued per teacher. Teacher accounts are separate from your personal library card.

    Contact us for help with registering for a teacher card.

    Student accounts are set up in partnership with a school district and allow students to access public library resources using a school-provided number. Learn more about student accounts.

    Many library systems in Washington State allow state residents outside their service area to sign up for a library card. You may be eligible for an account with the libraries listed below if you are a Sno-Isle Libraries cardholder or are eligible for a Sno-Isle Libraries card. Please note:   

    • This list is subject to change and may be incomplete; accuracy is not guaranteed.  
    • Library systems have different rules, fees, and registration requirements.  
    • Check eligibility and registration requirements before making a trip.
    • Physical materials such as books and DVDs must be returned to the library system where they were borrowed.
    • Track your family's borrowing activity across different library systems with Library Elf.

    Bellingham Public Library

    Everett Public Library

    Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries

    King County Library System

    Kitsap Regional Library

    NCW Libraries

    North Olympic Library System

    Pierce County Library System

    Puyallup Public Library

    Seattle Public Library 

    Timberland Regional Libary

    Whatcom County Library System

    Once you have obtained a library card, you can register for an account in BiblioCommons, the Sno-Isle Libraries catalog. This account will allow you to place items on hold, track your borrowing, rate and review items, submit suggestions for purchase, and more.

    To register for an account:

    1. Click on the Log in/My Account button in the top right corner of the screen.
    2. Click Log In/Register.
    3. Enter your library card number and PIN.
    4. Follow the prompts to create your username and password/PIN and then create your account. Usernames must be unique. You may create a password for your BiblioCommons account if you wish or may continue to use your PIN.
    5. If registering an account for a minor, you will be prompted to create a username from a set of pre-selected username options. 

    To learn more about registering your account, see the BiblioCommons registration information page.

    Check Out Limits

    You may have an all-inclusive maximum of 300 checked out items. See below for specific limits for each format.

    Physical materials

    (including books, DVDs, music CDs, and audiobooks)

    Up to 300 per library card
    Hoopla 15 borrows per month
    Kanopy 15 tickets per month
    Overdrive 30 items at any one time per library card. These contribute to the 300 item limit
    Discover Pass 1 pass at a time per library card

    Books, Audiobooks, CDs & DVDs: Most Entertainment DVDs check out for 7 days. All other physical materials, including television series DVDs, check out for 3 weeks. There may be a shorter period for interlibrary loan items depending on restrictions from the lending library. 

    On-Site Laptops, Laptops to Go, & Wi-Fi Hotspots to Go: On-site laptops can be checked out for up to two hours. Laptops to Go and Wi-Fi hotspots check out for 21 days. 

    Overdrive Materials: The default lending period is 21 days. If you'd like to change the default, you can update lending period to 7, 14 or 21 days in Settings.

  • Password/Pin

    Your PIN defaults to the last four digits of your phone number. If no phone number was submitted, the default is 1234. 

    To change your PIN in your online account:

    1. Log in to your account.
    2. Enter your current PIN, new PIN or password, and confirm the new PIN or password.
    3. Select save password.

    To recover your PIN:

    1. Contact us and we will reset your password to the last 4 digits of your phone number.
    2. You can use the Forgot your Password? function. You must have an online account that is linked with an active email address in order to use this feature.