Your Bradley Public Library card is the key to unlocking a variety of resources. You can use your library card in the traditional way— to borrow physical materials— but your new library card is also key to accessing many other resources including ebooks, eaudiobooks, digital magazines, streaming movies, museum passes, and mobile hotspots.

Bradley Public Library cards are available free of charge to residents who live within our district boundaries which are nearly the same as the Bradley Elementary School District. Not sure if you are in our district? If you have a tax bill for your home, simply look to see if it lists Bradley Public Library District. The Kankakee County Treasurer also offers a property search that shows if Bradley Public Library is included in your taxing bodies. If you need help, call us at 815-932-6245 and we can help you determine if you are a district resident. If you don’t live in our district, you may be eligible to receive a card from another area library which can also be used at the Bradley Public Library.

Getting A Library Card

Visit the Library to fill out an application card, and bring a photo ID with proof of address. If your photo ID has your current address, that is all you need. If not, the following can be used for proof of address: a recent utility or other bill, bank statement, tax bill, or rental lease. Library cards expire after 3 years and may be renewed with photo ID and proof of address.

For children under the age of 16, a parent or guardian will need to be present to sign for the library card. Parents or guardians are financially responsible for all materials checked out on a child’s card.

Bradley Public Library cards may be used at other Illinois public libraries to borrow materials. Those materials are the responsibility of the person who borrows them, and are subject to all of the fines, rules, and regulations of the lending library.

Non-Resident Library Cards

Anyone who is not a resident of the Bradley Public Library District or another public library may get a non-resident library card by completing an application card, showing proof of current address and photo ID, and paying the current non-resident fee.  Non-resident fees are determined annually by the Library Board using the formula provided by the Illinois State Library and are equal to what an average resident taxpayer pays for library service. The fee for July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 is $195.00. This fee entitles the entire family living in the household to get library cards and have the same borrowing privileges as a resident card holder. Non-resident library cards are valid for one year.

Non-resident property owner or business owner

Anyone who is not a resident of the Bradley Public Library District but who owns or leases property or a business within the Library District may obtain a non-resident library card without additional charge by showing a photo ID and current real estate tax bill or lease agreement for property within the Bradley Public Library District and completing an application card. A non-resident property owner card is valid for one year.  This card has the same borrowing privileges as a resident card.