Welcome to Rochester Public Library, we are so happy to hear you’d like to be our patron!

While a library card is not necessary to use our facilities for in-house purposes or to attend programs, having your very own library card does get you access to check out books, DVDs, educational kits, etc. from our library and across the state through our SHARE system AND e-resources such as e-books and digital audiobooks.

Step one: Confirm your address is part of our library tax district.

Use the following link to check the library district of your address as determined by your property taxes.

Illinois Public Library Service Area Populations

Does your address fall into the downtown Springfield library tax district? Please get your physical card with the Lincoln Library located at 326 S 7th St, Springfield, IL 62701. Get a Lincoln Library card

Once you have your physical card, we can make you an RPLD reciprocal borrower account. Please note that reciprocal borrower accounts exclusively have access to non-electronic materials in house, to request other items or use e-resources you will have to utilize your home library resources.

Step two: Visit the library with your photo ID with tax district address or your old ID with a piece of official mail/paperwork proving RPLD tax district address.

We will use this address to confirm your eligibility for a Rochester library card.

Step three: We will confirm your contact information and create a new library card for you to use immediately!

In addition to your identification and address we will confirm your additional contact information and email you our user agreement to sign as well as send you home with a new patron folder including your new library card!