How to Apply for a Borrower Card
Individuals can request a New York State Library Borrower's card application or a New York State Resident Borrower's card application at the Circulation Desk located on the 7th floor of the New York State Library or over the phone by calling (518) 473-7895 or by sending an email to nyslcirc@mail.nysed.gov.
Please specify the type of NYSL Borrower's card that you are applying for:
NYS Residents
As of June 22, 2004, all New York State residents, 18 years and older, are eligible to receive a NYS Resident's Borrower's card. This card will allow those individuals to directly borrow items from the NYS Library and to remotely access NOVEL databases. This program gives New York State residents, who are not eligible under other NYSL Borrower categories, onsite borrowing privileges; materials will not be mailed to individuals under this program. The card issued to NYS residents under this program, the NYS Resident Borrower's card, does not provide individuals with free photocopies or interlibrary loan privileges. Individuals with a NYS Residents card will be allowed to have up to 10 items on loan from NYSL at a time.
Applicants must complete a NYSL NYS Resident Borrower's application and present one of the following forms of personal identification:
- a current New York State driver's license, or
- a current photo-identification card issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, or
- other current photo-identification card that contains the individual's name and current home address, or
- other current photo-identification card that contains the individual's name and a recent piece of official mail (such as a utility or telephone bill) that shows the individual's name and current home address. (A college dormitory is not considered a resident home address.)
Proof that a resident is 18 years or older may be required. New York State residents
listing a post office box as a mailing address must also provide their resident address.
New York State Government Employees
Permanent New York State Government employees are eligible to receive a NYS Library Borrower's Card. NYS government employees must complete a NYSL NYS Government Employee Borrower's application and must verify their status as an eligible borrower by presenting one of the following:
- A current NYS agency or legislative photo identification card that includes an expiration date, or
- A NYS government paycheck stub AND a NYS agency photo-identification card, a NYS legislature photo-identification card, a current NYS Driver's license, or a current photo-identification card issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles.
Retired New York State Government Employees
Retired New York State Government employees are eligible to receive a NYS Library Borrower's Card. Applicants must complete a NYSL Retiree Borrower's application and provide personal identification such as a NYS Driver's license or current photo-identification card issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles. Additionally, applicants must verify their status as a retired NYS Government employee by providing a letter from the NYS Agency that they retired from attesting to their valid retirement from a unit of NYS government.
Attorneys
Attorneys who are residents of New York State and are admitted to the New York bar are eligible to receive a NYS Library Borrower card. Applicants must complete a NYSL Attorney Borrower's application and present personal identification that includes their home address such as a current NYS Driver's license or a current photo-identification card issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles AND one of the following:
- Letterhead from the individual's firm with his/her name on it, business card or NYS bar card, or
- A listing in a current legal directory.
Licensed Physicians
Licensed physicians who are residents of New York State are eligible to receive a NYS Library Borrower's card. Applicants must complete a NYSL Doctor Borrower's application and present personal identification that includes their home address such as a current NYS Driver's license or a current photo-identification card issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles AND one of the following:
- letterhead, business card or membership card for the American Medical Association or the Medical Society of the State of New York, or
- photo-identification card from their place of employment that identifies the individual as a physician, or
- listing in a current medical directory
Local Historians
Local historians who are appointed by NYS local governmental bodies are eligible to receive a NYS Library Borrower's card. Applicants must complete a NYSL Historian Borrower's application and present personal identification such as a current NYS Driver's license or a current photo-identification card issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles AND one of the following:
- A photo-identification card from their place of employment, or
- A letter from the local appointing authority.