How to Get a Library Card in Los Angeles

Q: LAPL vs. LA County Library — which card do I need?

It depends on your address. The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) serves the City of Los Angeles, while the LA County Library serves the unincorporated areas of LA County plus dozens of separate cities. The quickest way to tell which one covers you is to find your nearest branch and see which system runs it: LAPL branches and LA County Library branches are labeled on each system's website. If your home is inside the City of Los Angeles, you're generally LAPL; if you're in an unincorporated area or a city that uses the county system, it's LA County Library. Because both cards are free to California residents, many people simply get both.

Q: Do I have to live in the city of Los Angeles to get a library card?

Not necessarily. For a full LAPL card, you need to be a resident of California — not specifically the City of Los Angeles — and can apply in person at any branch. The one City-of-L.A.-only restriction is LAPL's instant online e-card. Separately, if you live in the unincorporated county or in a city served by the LA County Library, you'd get that system's card instead (free to California residents). So most Angelenos qualify for at least one free card; which one depends on where you live.

Q: Can I get Libby without a library card?

Not really — Libby requires a library card from a participating library to sign in and borrow, because each digital loan is tied to your card and your library's license. The good news in Los Angeles is that you can get that card for free in minutes: City of Los Angeles residents can apply for an instant LAPL e-card online, and LA County residents 18+ can get a free digital library card from the LA County Library — either one lets you log into Libby right away. If you don't yet live in an area served by these systems, see our guide to the non-resident library card for other ways to get an eligible card.

Q: Can I have both an LAPL and an LA County Library card?

Yes. LAPL and the LA County Library are two separate systems with their own branches, catalogs, and digital collections, and both issue free cards to California residents. If you live or work near both, holding a card in each widens the physical items and the apps (such as Libby/OverDrive, hoopla, and Kanopy) you can borrow from, since their digital catalogs don't fully overlap. There's no rule against carrying both — just follow each system's separate application and borrowing policies.

The Los Angeles area is served by two separate free public library systems — here's how to tell which one covers your address and get the right card.

By the Public-Libraries.com Editorial Team · Updated October 4, 2026

In this guide

Why Los Angeles Has Two Library Systems
LAPL vs. LA County Library at a Glance
Which Card Do You Need? How to Tell
How to Get an LAPL (City of Los Angeles) Card
E-Card vs. Physical Card: The One Difference That Trips People Up
How to Get an LA County Library Card
What Your LA Library Card Unlocks (Digital)
Statewide & Digital Options Beyond LA

Quick answer: The Los Angeles area is served by two separate public library systems, and a card at each is free. The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) serves the City of Los Angeles; per LAPL, cards are free to residents of California, and City of Los Angeles residents can get an instant online e-card. The LA County Library (County of Los Angeles Public Library) serves the unincorporated areas of LA County and dozens of separate cities through its own branches; per LA County Library, cards are free to permanent and temporary California residents, with a free digital card available online. To pick the right one, find out whether your address is inside the City of Los Angeles (LAPL) or in a community served by LA County Library — your nearest branch's name is the quickest tell. Details and requirements can change, so confirm on lapl.org or lacountylibrary.org.

Why Los Angeles Has Two Library Systems

"Los Angeles" means different things depending on your street. The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) is the municipal system for the City of Los Angeles. The LA County Library — officially the County of Los Angeles Public Library — is a separate countywide system that serves the unincorporated parts of the county plus many independent cities that don't run their own library. They are different agencies, with different branches, catalogs, and cards. That's why searching "LA library card" can be confusing: the answer depends on which system covers where you live. If you're brand new to library cards in general, our overview of how to get a library card walks through the basics first.

On top of these two, some cities in the region run their own independent municipal libraries (for example, several standalone city library systems around the county). So while LAPL and LA County Library cover the largest share of the area, always double-check your specific city. You can look up your local system on our Los Angeles library directory or use search by city to find the branch nearest you.

LAPL vs. LA County Library at a Glance

System	Who it serves	Card cost	How to apply
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL)	The City of Los Angeles	Free to California residents	In person at any branch with ID + proof of address; instant e-card online for City of L.A. residents
LA County Library (County of Los Angeles Public Library)	Unincorporated LA County + dozens of separate cities (via its branches)	Free to permanent and temporary California residents	In person at any branch with accepted ID; free digital library card online for LA County residents 18+

Both are free. Neither LAPL nor LA County Library charges for a standard library card. If a site asks you to pay for a "Los Angeles library card," it isn't one of these official systems — apply directly at lapl.org or lacountylibrary.org.

Which Card Do You Need? How to Tell

The fastest way to know which system covers you is to find your nearest public library branch and see which system runs it — LAPL branches and LA County Library branches are clearly labeled on each system's website. As a rule of thumb: if your home is inside the City of Los Angeles, you're in LAPL territory; if you live in an unincorporated area or in a city that uses the county system, LA County Library is likely yours.

Good news: you don't have to choose just one. Because both cards are free to California residents, many Angelenos who live or work near both systems simply get both — that widens the physical collections and digital apps you can borrow from. And if you live outside the area entirely, our guide to the non-resident library card covers your options.

How to Get an LAPL (City of Los Angeles) Card

According to the Los Angeles Public Library, an LAPL card is free to residents of California. You have a few paths:

Option	Who it's for	What to do
In-person card	Any California resident	Visit any LAPL branch with proof of identity and address; get a full card on the spot
E-card (online)	City of Los Angeles residents only	Apply online at lapl.org for instant digital access; LAPL notes its vendor licensing limits e-cards to City of L.A. residents, and you may need to verify your address
Pre-registration	Anyone planning a branch visit	Fill out the application online first, then visit a branch to finish and pick up your card

LAPL says its card gives access to millions of items — physical books and media, more than a million e-books and audiobooks, borrowable laptops and hotspots, research databases, free online classes, and museum and state-park passes (through programs like Discover & Go). The e-card is the quickest route to digital borrowing if you live in the city; a full in-person card adds in-branch checkouts. Always confirm current requirements at lapl.org. If you want to see LAPL's flagship in person, it's the Richard J. Riordan Central Library downtown, and you can browse every LAPL branch we list in our Los Angeles directory.

E-Card vs. Physical Card: The One Difference That Trips People Up

If you live inside the City of Los Angeles, the instant online e-card is the fastest way to start borrowing — but there are two details LAPL spells out that catch new cardholders off guard. First, after you apply, LAPL mails you address-verification instructions; per lapl.org you must verify your address or your e-card will expire. Second, the e-card unlocks almost everything a physical card does — e-books, audiobooks, databases, online classes — except LAPL's "Explore L.A." program (the Discover & Go museum and cultural passes). To check out those free passes to L.A. museums and attractions, you need a full physical library card obtained at a branch. So if museum passes are your main reason for signing up, skip straight to an in-person card. Policies can change, so confirm on lapl.org.

How to Get an LA County Library Card

The LA County Library issues its own separate card. Per the system, cards are free to permanent and temporary residents of California, and LA County Library serves the unincorporated areas of the county plus dozens of cities through its network of community libraries. To apply in person, bring an accepted ID to any LA County Library branch.

For accepted identification, LA County Library asks for one primary ID (such as a California driver's license or state ID showing your current address) or two secondary documents that show your name and current address (for example, a recent utility bill, bank statement, or pay stub). If you can't visit in person, the system offers a free digital library card online for LA County residents 18 and older, which gives immediate access to its digital collections. Children and teens can get a card with a parent or guardian's consent. Confirm the current ID list and any age rules at lacountylibrary.org.

What Your LA Library Card Unlocks (Digital)

Both systems put a large digital library behind your card, though the specific apps and databases differ and change over time. Per each system's site, an LAPL card unlocks e-books and audiobooks, borrowable Wi-Fi hotspots and laptops, 200+ research databases, free online courses, and museum/park passes. An LA County Library card provides 24/7 access to e-books, audiobooks, magazines, music, movies and TV through platforms such as OverDrive/Libby, hoopla, and Kanopy, plus learning tools like LinkedIn Learning and Mango Languages. Availability varies by system and by title.

Because these are two separate systems, their digital catalogs don't fully overlap — another reason many residents keep a card in both. To see what's near you and which system runs each branch, browse our Los Angeles directory.

Statewide & Digital Options Beyond LA

Your LA card is the main key, but California residents have wider options too. If you split time between regions or want to understand how one card can reach more libraries, see our guide to statewide library cards. And if you're comparing where to live-and-borrow, both LAPL and LA County Library cards are free to California residents — so the practical question is usually which branches are closest, not eligibility. When in doubt, verify directly with each system before you rely on any specific policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

LAPL vs. LA County Library — which card do I need?

It depends on your address. The Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) serves the City of Los Angeles, while the LA County Library serves the unincorporated areas of LA County plus dozens of separate cities. The quickest way to tell which one covers you is to find your nearest branch and see which system runs it: LAPL branches and LA County Library branches are labeled on each system’s website. If your home is inside the City of Los Angeles, you’re generally LAPL; if you’re in an unincorporated area or a city that uses the county system, it’s LA County Library. Because both cards are free to California residents, many people simply get both.

Is a Los Angeles library card free?

Yes. Both major Los Angeles systems issue standard cards at no cost. Per the Los Angeles Public Library, an LAPL card is free to residents of California. Per the LA County Library, its card is free to permanent and temporary residents of California. Neither charges for a basic card, and both offer a free digital/e-card option online. If any website asks you to pay for a “Los Angeles library card,” it isn’t one of these official systems — apply directly at lapl.org or lacountylibrary.org.

Can I get an LAPL card online?

Yes, with a caveat. The Los Angeles Public Library offers an instant online e-card, but LAPL notes that its e-card is for residents of the City of Los Angeles only because of licensing agreements with its digital content vendors — and you may be asked to verify your address. If you live elsewhere in California, you can still get a full LAPL card by visiting any branch in person with proof of identity and address. You can also pre-register online first and finish at a branch.

Do I have to live in the city of Los Angeles to get a library card?

Not necessarily. For a full LAPL card, you need to be a resident of California — not specifically the City of Los Angeles — and can apply in person at any branch. The one City-of-L.A.-only restriction is LAPL’s instant online e-card. Separately, if you live in the unincorporated county or in a city served by the LA County Library, you’d get that system’s card instead (free to California residents). So most Angelenos qualify for at least one free card; which one depends on where you live.

What ID do I need to get a library card in Los Angeles?

It varies slightly by system, so confirm on each site. In general you’ll need to show proof of identity and current address. The LA County Library, for example, accepts one primary ID such as a California driver’s license or state ID showing your current address, or two secondary documents (like a recent utility bill, bank statement, or pay stub) that show your name and address. LAPL asks in-person applicants to bring proof of identity and address. Minors typically need a parent or guardian’s consent. Check lapl.org or lacountylibrary.org for the exact accepted-document list.

Can I get Libby without a library card?

Not really — Libby requires a library card from a participating library to sign in and borrow, because each digital loan is tied to your card and your library’s license. The good news in Los Angeles is that you can get that card for free in minutes: City of Los Angeles residents can apply for an instant LAPL e-card online, and LA County residents 18+ can get a free digital library card from the LA County Library — either one lets you log into Libby right away. If you don’t yet live in an area served by these systems, see our guide to the non-resident library card for other ways to get an eligible card.

Can I have both an LAPL and an LA County Library card?

Yes. LAPL and the LA County Library are two separate systems with their own branches, catalogs, and digital collections, and both issue free cards to California residents. If you live or work near both, holding a card in each widens the physical items and the apps (such as Libby/OverDrive, hoopla, and Kanopy) you can borrow from, since their digital catalogs don’t fully overlap. There’s no rule against carrying both — just follow each system’s separate application and borrowing policies.

Public-Libraries.com Editorial Team

Public-Libraries.com is an independent, reader-supported directory of every U.S. public library. Our editorial team compiles verified hours, services and resources from official sources — see how we verify our data.