Library Card Terms and Conditions

General Policy Statements

Any person who lives, works, attends school or pays property taxes in the state of Wisconsin is eligible to receive a Sun Prairie Public Library card free of charge. Use of a Sun Prairie Public Library card is non-transferrable, i.e., can only be used by the person whose name appears on the card.

The above status entitles you to one Sun Prairie Public Library card. The Library will merge or delete the records of any user found to have multiple active cards.

Any organization that operates in the city of Sun Prairie is eligible to apply for a Sun Prairie Public Library Organizational Borrower’s card free of charge.

All materials borrowed must be returned on or before the due date. The Library offers universal returns – most circulating material can be returned to any South Central Library System location in Dane, Sauk, Columbia, Wood, or Portage Counties. Likewise, pickup of holds and payment of fees may take place at any Library location.

Fees are charged for lost items.

Cardholders are responsible for all materials borrowed on their card, all use of the card and all charges made against it, until the card is reported lost to the Library.

Eligibility Requirements

When applying for a Sun Prairie Public Library card in person, or providing proof of their identity to validate an online card, an applicant must show proof that they live, work, attends school, or pays property taxes in the state of Wisconsin. To apply for a card:

Adults may provide only one piece of identification if it is 1 of the following valid Wisconsin IDs:

  • Current driver's license
  • Current photo learner's permit
  • Current non-driver's identification

Young Adults (ages 16-17) can show the same ID as adults. Alternatively, young adults may present 1 of the following, provided name and address* are included in the documentation:

  • Current school photo ID
  • Current report card
  • Working papers

If the above documentation is not available, any 2 of the following forms of identification are acceptable for adults and/or young adults, provided one shows a photo and name and/or signature and the other the applicant's current address:

  • Current college or university photo ID card
  • Current employee photo ID card
  • Current Armed Services ID card
  • Current passport
  • Medicare/Medicaid card
  • Social Security card
  • Birth certificate
  • Wisconsin motor vehicle registration
  • Professional, vocational or union photo ID
  • Current rent bill or lease agreement
  • Tax bill or receipt**
  • Statement from a homeless shelter*
  • Bank statement**
  • Cable, phone or utility bill**
  • Any piece of mail delivered by the US Post Office**

Children ages 0-15 must have their application completed and signed by a parent or guardian, who can provide the above identification/address validation on their child's behalf.

*Note: Post office boxes are not accepted as mailing addresses. Proof of residence is required.

**Note: Any of the above must be dated within the last 2 months, as indicated by the postmark or date of printed e-bill.

The name and address provided to verify your identification must match the information entered on the application.

A photo ID should also be presented when a change to the borrower’s address is made and when replacing a lost card. Cardholders are required to report change of name or address information promptly.

Digital Library Cards

With a digital library card, you can take advantage of a wide array of online resources—from borrowing e-books and audiobooks through our free e-reader app, Libby, to accessing databases available from home using your library card number and PIN/ Password. In order to access physical materials from other South Central Library System libraries, you must validate and pick up a physical library card in person. Please see Eligibility Requirements above.

When you have received your digital card number, you may use it to log into the LINKcat App and generate a scannable digital barcode. This can be scanned at any self check-out machine in the Library. You may also add family member cards to this app, and in that way, pick up holds for family members using your phone and a self check-out machine.

Special Notes on Juvenile Borrowers

  • Children may be present to receive their library cards, but their presence is not required.
  • A children’s application form must be signed by a parent or guardian. If a parent/guardian is not present, the library card application must be taken home for completion and signature. When completed, valid identification/address verification must be presented by the parent or guardian on behalf of the child.
  • Parents/guardians are responsible for the lost or damaged materials borrowed by their children

Special Notes on Organizational Borrowers

  • Cards of this type are available only to organizations located in the city of Sun Prairie.
  • In order to receive an organizational borrower’s card, a brief letter of request on organizational letterhead or an email from an organizational address must be submitted along with the completed application form. The authorized person who signs the application form must show identification and his/her name will be added to the record alongside the name of the organization.
  • Only one card will be issued to any organization. The organization will be responsible for all materials borrowed.
  • If the organization has a change of address or phone number, or the card is lost, the library must be notified immediately.
  • All regulations of the Sun Prairie Public Library apply to the organizational borrower’s card.

Special Notes on Non-Resident (Visitor) Borrowers

  • Visitors from out-of-state or abroad are welcome to use the Library’s resources on-site. Non-residents may be issued an Easy Access library card on-site, with a six month expiration date.
  • In order to qualify for a six month account applicants must present photo id and proof of address (i.e. passport and utility bill) for their locality.

Renewing or Validating Your Library Card

  • All library cards for cardholders in the South Central Library System expire and must be renewed every four years.
  • Expired cards must be renewed/validated before they can be used to borrow materials, download content from Wisconsin's Digital Library or The Library's online databases.
  • If you still have your card at the date of its expiration and you wish to renew it, there is no need to apply for a new card.
  • The above-mentioned forms of identification should be presented to renew or validate your library card. Additional required information may be requested by the Library as needed.

Hold Pickup Authorization

In situations where you would like to authorize another Sun Prairie cardholder (e.g. a spouse or caretaker) to collect requested items, you can call 608-825-7323. After staff verbally verify your account information, a note stating the name of the person who will pick up holds on your behalf will be placed on the records of both patrons. This permits only the checkout of your hold requests that are ready for pickup. Please make sure the person retrieving your hold(s) has your library card - if they only have your card number, they must present photo I.D.

Lost and Replacement Library Cards

When you register for a Sun Priarie Public Library card, you accept responsibility for all items on the card, all use made of the card and all charges made against it until your card is reported lost. The Library must have a record of your card having been reported lost, or it is not considered lost. Therefore it is to the patron’s benefit to report the loss or theft of a library card immediately.

Report lost cards by phone, in person at any Library location, or by e-mail.

Library Notices

The Sun Prairie Public Library provides a notification service for held items, overdue materials and other service-specific reasons. Notices are available via telephone or e-mail and the method by which you receive them is chosen at the time you apply for a card. Additionally, notices and bills for lost material will be sent to the mailing address on record at the Library. Cardholders are required to select a notice preference and to provide a valid telephone number or e-mail address on their account. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the borrower to notify the Library if any of their contact information changes.

If you receive a paper bill notice for a lost item and the address listed on the notice is no longer up to date, you may mail in your corrected address on the postage paid mailer. However, your card will be blocked until you have verified the change of address on your next visit to the library.

Note: In the case of borrowers who receive their notices by e-mail, it is their responsibility to make sure that e-mails sent from the Library be allowed through any filters they may have in place on their Inbox.

Library notices are sent as a courtesy. Failure to receive a notice does not absolve the borrower from any fees attached to their patron record.