Get a Library Card

SBPL eCards give you access to the Digital Library. You can sign up for an SBPL eCard if you live in the Santa Barbara Public Library service area and do not already hold an SBPL library card. The Santa Barbara Public Library service area does not include Goleta, Isla Vista, or Carpinteria.

If you live outside our service area, you will need to visit the library in person to apply for a card.

eCards expire one year from the date issued. Visit any SBPL location to convert to a All Access card prior to the expiration date.

Apply for an eCard

In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, you must be 13 or older in order to complete this registration.

For the sole purpose of accessing public computers within the Library, and making reservations for using the computer. No borrowing privileges are associated with an Internet Only card. A valid Internet Only library card may be obtained by showing personal ID which includes:

• The applicant's name
• A photograph of the applicant

Allows you to borrow books, movies, music, magazines and more from the Santa Barbara Public Library. This card also provides you free access to the digital collections. Anyone that resides in the State of California may obtain an SBPL Library Card. Cards issued to individuals who live outside the SBPL service area expire one year from the date issued. Individuals must visit an SBPL location to renew their card annually. View the County of Santa Barbara Library Zone boundaries map below. Santa Barbara Public Library is Zone 1.

Access computers on-site and make computer use reservations.

To receive an adult card, you must be 18 years of age or older and have valid identification and proof of your current mailing address.

SBPL Library Cards are available to California residents, or to anyone with valid identification and a California mailing address.

Acceptable forms of personal identification are:

• Driver’s License or Identification card
• Military ID
• Passport
• Resident Alien Card
• Matricula Consular
• International Student ID

Acceptable forms of address verification include any piece of mail with your name and address, in addition to a lease agreement, homeowner’s deed, or similar document.

If you do not have verification of your current mailing address, SBPL staff can mail you a proof of address postcard in the mail. Once you have received this SBPL postcard in the mail, you may obtain an All Access library card.

You may complete the online application prior to visiting the Library to obtain a library card if you live in our service area, then show your ID and address verification document to staff to complete the process.

• Online application (Santa Barbara service area only)

All Access cardholders can have up to 99 items checked out at a time and up to 20 holds at one time.

To receive a Teen card, you must be between 13 and 17 years of age. No proof of identification or proof of mailing address is required, but you must be able to provide a mailing address and the name of your legal guardian to sign up. Anyone that resides in the State of California may obtain an SBPL library card. Cards issued to individuals who live outside the SBPL service area expire one year from the date issued. Individuals must visit an SBPL location to renew their card annually. View the County of Santa Barbara Library Zone boundaries map below. Santa Barbara Public Library is Zone 1.

Teen cardholders can have up to 99 items checked out at a time and up to 20 holds at one time.

To receive a Juvenile card, you must be 12 years of age or younger. A parent or legal guardian must be present, and must show identification and proof of mailing address. Anyone that resides in the State of California may obtain an SBPL library card. Cards issued to individuals who live outside the SBPL service area expire one year from the date issued. Individuals must visit an SBPL location to renew their card annually. View the County of Santa Barbara Library Zone boundaries map below. Santa Barbara Public Library is Zone 1.

Juvenile cardholders can have up to 99 items checked out at a time and up to 20 holds at one time.

Hundreds of thousands of physical materials and extensive digital resources from the Santa Barbara Public Library are now available to students of the Santa Barbara Unified School District. For more information, please see the Student Success Library Cards page. Student Success cards can have up to 3 items checked out at one time.

Patrons who are unable to show proof of address due to not having a physical address may apply for a Welcome card. This is a library card that allows check out of some physical materials and all digital materials for patrons with no verified address. To apply for a Welcome card, please visit the Library during our open hours and see a staff member. To apply for a Welcome card, patrons will need to show a photo ID. Acceptable forms of photo IDs for Welcome card signups are listed in the Welcome Card policy.

Welcome cardholders can have 3 items checked out at one time and have up to 3 holds at one time.

Patrons who are residents of the Santa Barbara Public Library service area and generally confined to their residence either temporarily, due to illness or accident, or permanently, due to age, disability or other mobility problems may apply for a library card with Homebound Status. View the County of Santa Barbara Library Zone boundaries map below. Santa Barbara Public Library is Zone 1.

More details are in the Homebound Library Card policy.

Homebound cardholders can have up to 10 items checked out at one time and up to 2 deliveries per month.