Do library cards have an expiration date?
Answer
Most library cards, except for limited cards, expire after 3 years. You will receive a notice by email 6 months before your card is set to expire.
To renew a library card, come in to any branch with a photo ID. If your address has changed from what we have on file, please bring some proof of that address if it is not listed on your photo ID.
We do offer services for patrons that are homebound and unable to come into the library to apply for or renew a library card. For homebound patrons, please call (505)768-5141 Monday-Friday between the hours of 10am and 4pm and ask for homebound services.
Why does my library card expire?
The Public Library is required legally to ensure that the patrons we serve live in the state of New Mexico. Our contracts with our electronic resource vendors, such as OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla, state that the services we pay for are intended for New Mexico state residents, whose tax dollars are used to pay for such services. As such, the Library's policy does require patrons to visit one of our 19 library branches and show their photo ID in order to apply for a library card, and to visit a branch at least once every three years with their photo ID to confirm that they still do live in New Mexico.
Comments (10)
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Putting an expiration date on a library card is unnecessary and ridiculous. Further, having no way to address this issue online is unacceptable. Why have a free service if you are going to make it difficult to access and potentially inaccessible to some members of the community?
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Agreed! Library cards should never expire. It’s highly inconvenient for those that use Libby app at home and don’t want to leave the house.
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Library cards should not expire! Having to return to a physical library to renew a card for online use is a disincentive for those with mobility and transportation issues.
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To those wondering why library cards expire: The Public Library is required legally to ensure that the patrons we serve live in the state of New Mexico. Our contracts with our electronic resource vendors, such as OverDrive/Libby and Hoopla, state that the services we pay for are intended for New Mexico state residents, whose tax dollars are used to pay for such services. As such, the Library's policy does require patrons to visit one of our 19 library branches and show their photo ID in order to apply for a library card, and to visit a branch at least once every three years with their photo ID to confirm that they still do live in New Mexico.
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I understand needing to follow the state policies. But in this age of Zoom calls, can't we do an online video call to show our ID to confirm we still live in NM?
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I'm a librarian in another State, but I thought I'd chime in. To the comment that mentioned Zoom calls ... I don't think you're conceptualizing the actual logistics involved. For examples, let's say you're in a county that has 100,000 registered library card users. If cards expire every 3 years, that means on any given day, about 91 cards are expiring. Do you think the library has the staff to try and schedule, let alone execute, 91 Zoom calls every single day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year? And that's just one tiny task that is far less than 1% of the daily workload of a library worker. Is it really too much to ask that, once every three years, a person actually visit the library whose resources they are using? Is that really what our world has come to?
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That's fine. The library is such a great public service, I don't mind having to reinstate my credentials. Every 3 years is not a burden. I have to update my driver's license every few years. It's a small inconvenience.
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To the librarian in another State, I don't see how having us come to a library instead would reduce that workload, unless you're talking about how it would disincentivize some people.
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Hi there. To those wondering why Zoom renewals are not possible: If the Public Library were to offer renewals over Zoom, it would need staff to handle that. That would take staff away from handling in-person things like working the checkout desk, reference, programs, etc. The Library simply does not have the staff or budget for that. The Public Library does offer services for patrons that are homebound and unable to come into the library to apply for or renew a library card. For homebound patrons, please call (505)768-5141 Monday-Friday between the hours of 10am and 4pm and ask for homebound services. For everyone else, visiting a branch of the Public Library once every three years to renew is all that is required in order to access the tons of books, resources, and services that the Library provides at no charge.
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I just wish I had been notified. I specifically asked when I got a card if they expired because I've had cards from other libraries expire before and was told no. If I had been informed I would have put it on my calendar. I also did not get an email that says it was expiring 6 months ahead of time like the website says. There shouldn't be a renew button that does nothing when I login to my account if I can't renew online. I don't live in Albuquerque, but I was just there a few days ago and found out after I got home that I couldn't get a book for my book club because my card expired. Guess I'm skipping this month because I don't plan to go back to Albuquerque for weeks.
