Library Cards

Library Cards & Your Account

Library cards are available for free to permanent and temporary residents of California. With an LA County Library card, you can:

check out books, magazines, and DVDs
place holds and access your account online
access library databases from home
download audiobooks, books, and music
use the Library’s public computers and internet
connect to Wi-Fi at all LA County Library locations

Library Card

To get a library card, fill out an application and bring it to any LA County Library location along with a valid ID. Cards are valid for three years and can be renewed by calling or visiting a library. If your library card is lost or stolen, report it immediately. Replacement cards cost $3.00.

Apply for a Library Card

Library Card Application (English / Spanish) (PDF)

Library Card Application (English / Chinese) (PDF)

Library Card ID Requirements (PDF)

Acceptable Use Policy (PDF)

Solicitar una Tarjeta de Biblioteca

Biblioteca Publica del Condado de Los Angeles Solicitud de Tarjeta de Biblioteca (PDF)

Solicitud de Tarjeta de Biblioteca Digital (en ingles)

Requisitos para la Tarjeta de la Biblioteca

Normativo de Uso Aceptable de Internet

Library Cards for Children and Teens

There is no minimum age requirement to apply for a library card. Children under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign their library card application. Parents/guardians can restrict their child from checking out DVDs. For a child to access the Internet, parents/guardians must be present and fill out an Internet Access Permission form. All fees related to lost or damaged items or lost library cards are the responsibility of the parent/guardian.

Internet Access Permission for Children

Los Privilegios de Acceso de Internet para Su Hijo

Student Card

We’ve partnered with participating schools in our service area to offer the Student Card with the following benefits:

Unlimited access to the Library’s online resources
Up to 3 print items from the library checked out at one time
Access to library computers (with parental consent)
No fines or fees. Ever!

Check with your school to see if the Student Card is available.

Books Unbanned Card

To help support teenagers ages 13-18 years old in California, LA County Library’s Books Unbanned initiative offers free and unrestricted access to the Library’s entire digital eBook and audiobook collection on Libby, by OverDrive, which includes many frequently-banned titles. The Books Unbanned card allows 5 check outs at a time and is valid for one year.

Learn more about Books Unbanned.

Access Your Account

You can access your library account by logging into the online catalog and clicking “My Account.” From here, you can:

Renew items, check due dates, and view fees
Check status of holds, cancel holds, change pickup location
Place a vacation hold by entering the dates you will be gone and we will delay your hold until you return

Update your address and phone number
Change your PIN
Update your email

My Account

Digital Library Card

Get a Digital Library Card to receive immediate, unlimited, and free access to LA County Library’s online resources, including eBooks and audiobooks, movie and TV streaming, and music downloads.

Get a PIN

A PIN allows you to place holds and access your account online, use the Library’s public computers, and use virtual Library resources. You are given a PIN when you first apply for a library card. If you have a library card but do not have a PIN or have forgotten it, you can request a PIN online or by calling any LA County Library location.

Borrowing Materials

Visit this page for information about borrowing materials, placing holds, interlibrary loans, and fines & fees.

Borrowing Materials

Computer Card

Customers who are ineligible for library cards (for example, people traveling from out of state), can apply for a computer card that allows them access to the Library’s public computers and Wi-Fi. Valid for one year.

Kindle Paperwhite eReader

Welcome to a New Way to Read...

Have you walked into a library and wished you could check out more books than you could possibly carry? Check out a Kindle Paperwhite at participating libraries with a collection of titles that you are sure to enjoy. Each Kindle has been loaded with expert-selected books.

You don’t need internet access - all the books are pre-loaded onto the Kindle so you are ready to read.

Three week checkout
Renew up to 3 times, as long as no one else is waiting
Must be 18 or older (or under 18 with parent permission)
eBooks cannot be added to this device by user

How do I get one?

Visit a participating library to check out or place a hold on a Kindle Paperwhite. Kindles are not sent to other libraries for pick up.
Note: Selection of genres varies per library. Click on a library below to see the list of genres.

Library Locations with eReaders

Click on the library to view list of genres available.

Laptops in this kiosk can be checked out by customers with a LA County Library card in good standing. The laptop is due back in the kiosk before the library closes on the same day it is checked out.

If you do not return the laptop to the kiosk on the same day you check it out, your library account will be charged the full replacement cost of the laptop.

When you check out a laptop from this kiosk, you agree to use it within the library only. If you remove the laptop from the library, you may held criminally responsible for theft of the laptop and/or be charged the full replacement cost of the laptop.

You are responsible for the laptop and you agree that you will reimburse the LA County Library for any damages if the laptop is damaged, lost or stolen while checked out to you.

If you check out a laptop and it is damaged, you will give it to library staff immediately.

You must save to a removable storage device (such as a USB drive) since your work will not be saved to the laptop beyond your current checkout.

LA County Library will not be held responsible for any damage or loss of data or media due to any cause while you are using a laptop from this kiosk.

By using this laptop, you must adhere to the Library’s Acceptable Use Policy. Laptops are available at the following libraries:

Consumer Health Information Program

The Consumer Health Information Program assists the public with medical research by providing information from reliable sources. Customers are invited to use the Norwalk Library collection which consists of books, magazines, videos, and online databases related to health topics. We also provide individualized research services.

Please be aware, we do not provide medical advice, nor are the materials we provide a substitute for a professional medical opinion.

What Can We Do for You?

We can provide you with information on topics such as:

Medical conditions or diseases
Prescription medications
Surgical procedures
General physician and hospital information
Book and website recommendations for further reading

How to Contact Us

Location: Norwalk Library

Phone: (562) 868-4003

Fax: (562) 868-4065

Email: chips@library.lacounty.gov

Online Resources

Health Databases *

Health & Fitness eBooks and Audiobooks *

Family Place

What is Family Place?

A Family Place Library is a center for early childhood information, parent education, emergent literacy, socialization, and family support. Family Place builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parent involvement, and supportive communities play a critical role in young children's growth and development. Each Family Place Library features the following core elements:

A bright, colorful, and welcoming space for young children and their parents.
A collection of books, toys, videos, music, and other materials for babies, toddlers, parents, and service providers
Access to resources that emphasize emergent literacy, reading readiness, and parent education.
Developmentally appropriate programming, such as baby and toddler storytimes for younger children and their parents.
Outreach to new and underserved populations.
The Parent-Child Workshop is a five-week workshop featuring local professionals, such as nutritionists, speech and language therapists, and child development experts, who serve as resources for parents.

The first three years of a child's life lay the foundation for learning. Get the tools and resources you need to give your child the best possible start.

Family Place Library Children playing music in Family Place Library

LA County Library Californiana Collection

Accessing the Collection

The Californiana Collection is in closed stacks at the Norwalk Library located at 12350 Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650.

About the Collection

The Californiana Collection consists of over 24,000 books and over 200 magazine and newspaper titles in paper and on microfilm as well as a collection of state documents including state and county budgets. The goal of this collection is to present a complete picture of the history, culture, environment and artistic expression of the people of California and to some extent, the western United States.

Collection Highlights

California Census Schedules from 1850 to 1910
Copies of The Alta California newspaper 1849-1891, as well as dozens of other 19th century newspapers from Gold Rush boomtowns, the Owens Valley and San Francisco
The Los Angeles Star newspaper 1851-1879
City directories dating from the 19th century
Official city and county histories from the 19th and 20th centuries
Materials on the Donner Party, California water projects, famous California crimes, Hollywood culture, biographies of Californians, pioneer narratives of the early days of California, and histories of the state written over the course of 150 years

Library Cards & Your Account

Library Card

Library Cards for Children and Teens

Student Card

Books Unbanned Card

Access Your Account

Digital Library Card

Get a PIN

Borrowing Materials

Computer Card

Kindle Paperwhite eReader

Welcome to a New Way to Read...

How do I get one?

Library Locations with eReaders

Downloads and Streaming

Digital Media

What Can We Do for You?

How to Contact Us

Online Resources

Family Place

What is Family Place?

Accessing the Collection

About the Collection

Collection Highlights