Frequently Asked Questions

Fill out an application at any El Dorado County Library, or complete and print out an online library card application, and bring it to the library during open hours. A valid photo identification will also be required to get your library card.

Adult Library Card Application - en español
Child Library Card Application (birth - 17 years old) - en español
For juveniles a parent or guardian must accompany the child, complete the library card application and show acceptable photo identification.

Juveniles 16 to 18 years old: Teenagers who have a driver license may use it as identification.  A parent or guardian must complete the library card application and sign it, but a parent or guardian need not be present.

A non-expired government issued identification card is required to get a library card. We will accept the following as proof of identity:

• DMV-issued Driver’s License or Identification Card
• Mexican Matrícula Consular Card
• Military ID
• Passport
• Permanent Resident Card

The default password is the first 4 letters of your last name, all lowercase. If your last name is only two or three letters, then that is your full password. Special characters count as a letter.

If you have an email associated with your account, you can Reset Your Password.

If you're still having trouble logging into your account, please call any El Dorado County Library so staff can assist you. Please have your library card number ready.

Library cards expire every four years. Please call or visit the library, to have your account updated. Library staff will verify your address, telephone number, and email address and extend your card for another four years.

Please notify the library of lost or stolen cards. A valid photo identification will also be required to replace your library card. Lost cards must be replaced before further checkout. The cardholder (or parent of minor) is responsible for any items or charges on the card until it is reported lost or stolen.

The El Dorado County Library recognizes the need to protect your right to privacy. Read the library’s Privacy Policy.

All items check out for three weeks, except our Book Club in a Bag kits which have an extended check out of six weeks. Qualifying items will automatically renew the day they are due, or you can renew items early from our online catalog.

Please note items with holds, Lucky Day books, specialty items, and items already renewed three times cannot be renewed.

If you’ve provided the library with your email address, a reminder email will be sent before items are due. Patrons are responsible for returning items on time, even if reminder emails are not received.

El Dorado County Library items may be returned to any El Dorado County Library regardless of where the items were checked out. During closed hours items may be returned to the outside book drop. Please return all park passes, kits, and any item that is too large to fit in the book drop to the service desk during open hours.

For your first check out you can borrow two items, after that the limit is 50 at any given time. Class field trip cards and other special cards may have other limits.

Items that are not Lucky Day books, specialty items, or on hold for another patron may be renewed three times, for three weeks each time. You may renew items 24/7 from our online catalog or by calling the library during open hours. Please have your library card number ready.

Search for items in the library’s online catalog. Click on the Place Hold button, enter your library card number and password to log in, select your Pickup Library, and click Submit Hold Request.

The default password is the first 4 letters of your last name, all lowercase. If your last name is only two or three letters, then that is your full password. If your last name contains a special character, then that counts as a letter.

If you have an email associated with your account, you can Reset Your Password, or if you need assistance, please contact the library.

The library will send an email when items that have been placed on hold are available for pick up. If you don’t have access to email, library staff will call you. You can also check the status of your holds from Your Account page on our online catalog. When picking up items, please be sure to have the library card that was used to place the hold.

Patrons may place holds on items from any El Dorado County Library by using the library’s online catalog. If you need assistance please contact the library.

Note Link+ services are paused for the moment; we hope to reinstate it by the end of the year.

If you are looking for a book, audiobook, or DVD that is not owned by any of the El Dorado County Library branches please check the Link+ catalog. Link+ is a catalog of materials from over 70 participating libraries throughout California and Nevada.  For more information about Link+ please click here.  Anyone with an El Dorado County Library Card in good standing may request an item through Link+.

If you don’t find what you're looking for through the above catalogs you may want to request the item through an Interlibrary Loan. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a service provided by the El Dorado County Library that allows you to borrow materials from other libraries. Anyone with an El Dorado County Library Card in good standing may request a book through Interlibrary Loan.

To borrow an ILL please see a staff member at any El Dorado County Library. Additional costs such as return postage or borrowing fees charged by the lending library are the responsibility of the patron. Patrons will be notified by telephone, usually within two to six weeks, when the requested materials arrive. Check our Interlibrary Loan Patron Agreement for more information.

As of December 4th, 2024, El Dorado County Library will no longer charge for overdue items or DVD fees.

Fees for damaged or lost items and some exceptions still apply. Items need to be returned in a timely manner, or accounts will be blocked (including access to the digital library).

Yes, all items are free to check out and renew!

At this time, we cannot accept online payments. You can pay your fines with cash or local check at any El Dorado County Library during open hours.

Yes, all El Dorado County Libraries offer free Wi-Fi.

Yes, all locations have a copy machine that prints in black & white for $0.15 per single side copy.

We charge $0.15 per single side copy for black & white prints.

We offer mobile printing at the Cameron Park Library, El Dorado Hills Library, Placerville Library, and South Lake Tahoe Library. You can use your personal computer or mobile device to print from anywhere. Simply submit documents for printing and come to the library to release and pick up your document using your library card or email address. Prints will be in black & white and cost $0.15 per single side copy. For all other library locations, you will need to use the public computers if you wish to print.

Cameron Park Library mobile printing instructions

El Dorado Hills Library mobile printing instructions

Placerville Library mobile printing instructions

South Lake Tahoe Library mobile printing instructions

Please contact your branch library to find out more about scanning capabilities.

No, we do not have fax machines.