The South Carolina State Library (SCSL) is open to the public. SC residents age 18 and over are eligible to apply for a free library card and may borrow circulating materials from our collections and access our electronic resources.
The State Library offers two options for accessing our services: a Physical Card, which provides access to all our resources, both physical and digital, and a new E-Card, which grants instant access to all our digital services and materials.
Get a Library Card
Physical Card
Gives you the ability to borrow circulating materials and access electronic resources.
With this card, you can:
- Borrow physical materials
- Place holds on library items
- Request InterLibrary Loans (ILL)
- Access online resources
Your card will arrive by mail within 7-10 days.
E-Card
Gives you immediate access to the library’s digital services and materials.
With this card you can access:
- Newspapers and eBooks
- Online learning platforms
- Research and homework resources
Your card number will be emailed to you instantly.
By submitting these forms, you agree to accept full responsibility for all materials charged out to your SCSL account, to return materials within the loan period granted, and you are liable for the cost of replacing lost or damaged materials charged out on your account.
Your physical library card will be mailed to the address provided on the form once it is processed. Any questions about either card may be directed to reference@statelibrary.sc.gov.
Borrowing Policies
Our loan policies have recently changed. If you have any questions about these changes, please contact us at reference@statelibrary.sc.gov or (803) 734-8026.
- Holds
State Library cardholders may borrow library materials from other SCLENDS libraries. Any items requested by State Library cardholders will be available for pickup at the State Library. - Loan periods
21 days for books, government documents, audiobooks, music CDs, magazines, paperbacks, and items on reserve; 7 days for DVDs, with a maximum of 10 DVDs checked out per cardholder. - Total number of items
A maximum of 30 items total may be checked out per cardholder - Renewals
All items may be renewed twice, provided no one else has requested the item. There are several ways to renew items; patrons may either contact us or log in to their account by selecting “My Account” in the main menu above. - Fines
While overdue fines are not charged, patrons are still responsible for paying the full replacement cost for lost items, and may also be asked to pay replacement costs for damaged items.
