The Public Library for Union County

The Union County Library System card is used at The Public Library for Union County.  It is free for residents of Union County and includes an ACCESS PA sticker that allows cardholders to borrow materials from other participating Pennsylvania public libraries.  Because of the Internet-based circulation system, materials may be checked out or returned at any of the three Union County public libraries.

To receive a UCLS card, everyone must complete an application and present identification that includes the borrower’s picture, name and current address.
If the photo identification does not show the current address, additional acceptable forms of identification may include a voter’s registration card, mail with current address, a rental agreement, a property tax bill, a utility bill, or a checkbook.  No card can be issued without acceptable identification.

Any borrower who is not a Union County resident but who is a Pennsylvania resident must present a home library card with an ACCESS PA sticker in addition to a driver’s license.  Nonresidents without cards having an ACCESS sticker must pay $40 to receive a UCLS card for a year or $20 to receive a UCLS card for six months.

Children may receive their own UCLS cards.  To be eligible to receive a card, a child must be able to write his or her first and last name.  A parent or legal guardian must co-sign an application for anyone under the age of 18.  The responsible adult does not have to be a library card holder, but must present an acceptable form of identification for the child’s card to be processed.

Library users must present their cards to check out materials and to use public computers.  They are responsible for any item checked out with their cards, and changes in address or lost or stolen cards must be reported.  There is a $1 card replacement cost.

The catalog system allows searches for materials at all of the libraries and offers access to individual library accounts.  To begin using the individual account feature, library card holders must first receive a “Patron or Alternate ID Number” and PIN, or personal identification number, from their home library.  PINs may be changed after the account has been activated. Materials can be renewed online unless one or more of the following conditions exist:

• The card has expired or been blocked
• The material’s renewal limit has been reached
• The material is overdue
• The library user has any unpaid fines
• The material is on hold

If a cardholder changes the PIN and then forgets it, he or she must take the UCLS card to the library to have the account reset.