Visitor Cards

Patrons who are not Texas residents or who are new Texas residents without sufficient proof for a full-service card, may acquire a Visitor card by providing acceptable proof of residency or ID. An adult may acquire a visitor card for their child.

Identification and Proof of Residency for Visitor Cards

To register for a Visitor card a patron must provide proof of residency or ID. Below are the Secondary ID of the applying adult OR any type of Proof of Residency that are accepted by Harris County Public Library for Visitor Cards. The address on the proof can be an out-of-state address.

Primary Proof of Residency
(Name & Address)		 Secondary Proof of Residency
(Name & Address)		 Secondary Identification
(Name)
  • Driver’s license
  • ID card
  • Consular ID card
  • Military ID (doesn’t require Texas address)
  • Printed check
  • Lease/mortgage
  • Property tax receipt
  • Business or personal mail postmarked within 30 days.
  • Mailed or online item such as utility bill dated within the last 30 days.
  • Voter registration card
  • Auto insurance policy 
  • Any other document verifying name & address.
  • Credit card
  • Expired driver’s license
  • School ID
  • Employee ID badge
  • Passport
  • Any other ID (cannot be another piece of mail)

Borrowing Privileges

Visitor cardholders will have regular borrowing privileges for 90 days, except for interlibrary loan and TexShare services.

Visitor borrowing privileges will be suspended when there overdue items on the account.

Expiration 

Visitor cards, both child and adult, expire after three months. When a visitor’s account is blocked because the expiration date has passed, the patron may either renew their visitor card or apply for a full-service card.

Visitor Renewal 

Adult visitors may present their ID with their out of state address in order to renew their visitor status. The account will be renewed for another three months.

  • Adult visitors must be present in order to renew their visitor status.
  • Child visitor accounts may be renewed when the adult(s) on the account presents their ID with out of state address. The account will be renewed for another three months. Child visitors do not need to be present for their account to be renewed.

Returns

Items that cannot be returned in person should be returned by mail. Items will be checked in upon receipt. Users will be responsible for any fines.

Updating Visitor Accounts to Full-Service Accounts 

Visitor accounts may be updated to a full-service account with proof of a Texas mailing address. A patron may request this change at any time and does not need to wait for their visitor account to expire. To do so, patrons may visit any of our branch locations, and staff will be able to assist them.

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