Illinois Library Non-Resident Program

In Illinois, Illinois residents living outside the taxing area of a public library (outside of the municipality or library district service area) are considered non-residents for the purpose of library cards. Non-residents have the option to access library services by annually purchasing a library card, which includes reciprocal borrowing privileges, from a participating public library under certain conditions:

• Non-residents must apply for a non-resident library card at the closest public library determined by the location of their residence.
• The public library in the school district of the non-resident’s principal residence is determined to be the closest public library.
• A non-resident may claim a commonality of community interest to apply at a public library that is closer to their residence.

The sale of a library card to a non-resident is covered by Illinois Statute 75 ILCS 16/30-55.60.

Public Libraries: Submit Your Non-Resident Card Program and Fee Status for FY2026

DEADLINE: JUNE 30, 2025

Every year, public library boards are required to take action to decide whether to issue non-resident library cards in the upcoming year and if cards as issued, how the fees are calculated. If non-resident cards are sold, libraries are asked to report what the actual fee is, when the board took action during the current fiscal year, and when the fee will go into effect (Ill. Admin. Code 23/3050.20). 

You can learn more about Public Library Non-Resident Service Rules on the Illinois Secretary of State Website.

All public libraries, therefore, should submit their library's Non-Resident Program participation status and associated fees for the upcoming fiscal year by the end of each preceding fiscal year.

Please submit your library's Non-Resident Program participation status and fee information on L2, which you can access via the button below. If you have questions or need additional information, please get in touch with our Associate Director or our Member Services Assistant by email or by phone. Thank you for your cooperation in this annual task.

Report FY2026 Non-Resident Card
Program Status & Fees

Directions

IHLS Board Member Loretta Broomfield has helpfully created a video guide to walk members through the process of updating non-resident card information. You can watch the guide here or read the directions below, which contain screenshots from Loretta's video.

1. Navigate to Library Directory and Learning Calendar (L2) and use the purple <Log In> button to log in to your account. This will take you to your user Affiliations page. 
2. If you see a link that says "Update [Your Library's] Non-Resident Card Information," click this link.

   
    

3. If not, click the linked name of your library agency under "agency." On the next page, click the purple hyperlink above your library's name.​
   
    

4. Then, select the purple <Edit> tab at the top of the page.

5. 
    
6. Scroll down and click the expandable <Non-Residents Card> section, and complete the questions.

   
    

7. Save.

What Will the Report Ask?

You'll be asked to indicate whether or not your library is participating in the non-resident fee program. If so, you'll also need to indicate which method the library is using to assess the fee, what the fee is, when the board took this action, and when the fee will become effective.

Need Help?

Alternate directions:

1. Log into L2.
2. Search for your library in the Directory and click on your library's name.
3. On the next page, click on the purple hyperlink above your library's name.
4. Scroll down and click the expandable <Non-Residents Card> section, and complete the questions.
5. Save.

Locked L2 pages:

Editing an agency in L2 locks that page from being simultaneously edited by someone else. To avoid it being locked indefinitely, click <Save> OR go back to <Edit>, scroll to the bottom, click <Unlock>, and confirm that you want to break the lock.

Contact:

For more help, contact a member of our Membership Team.