Retired New York State Government Employees
Retired New York State Government employees are eligible to receive a NYS Library Retired State Government Employee Borrower's Card. These borrower's cards begin with a "P" number.
With a NYS Library Borrower's Card you can:
- borrow materials onsite from the State Library’s 20 million item collection
- request materials in person, over the telephone (518-474-5355), via fax (518-474-5279), via email at circ@mail.nysed.gov or through Excelsior, the NYSL online catalog
- remotely access, from work or home, the Library's collection of online databases and millions of magazine, journal and newspaper articles available in over 20,000 full-text online journals and newspapers
- submit Interlibrary Loan requests for items not owned by the State Library in person at the Reference Desk, over the phone (518-474-5355), via email or online via ILLiad
Retired NYS government employees must complete a NYSL Retired Government Employee Borrower's Card application
(43 KB) and provide personal photo-identification (such as a NYS driver license or current photo-identification card issued by the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles). In addition, applicants must verify their status as a retired New York State 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.
Photocopies or scans are acceptable when mailing, faxing or e-mailing your proof of status.
A NYSL Borrower's Card is issued for individual use and is non-transferable. Please do not share your NYSL Borrower's Card number or PIN with others.
NYSL Retired NYS Government Employee Borrower's Cards must be renewed every two years.