Q:  Why did my library card expire? I used it just the other day!

A:  Please don’t be alarmed—every library card expires yearly, and reviving it only takes a minute. We simply check to make sure we have your current address, phone number, and (optional) email address on file. If you owe excessive fees we collect them before extending your borrowing privileges. If you don’t live in New Hanover County or qualify for a free card in another way, we collect the $30 nonresident fee. Then we renew your card for another year.

This process helps keep our records up to date, which is challenging and important in our fast-paced, mobile society. We understand you’re busy and may not remember to inform us if you drop your landline for a cell phone or switch email providers, but there will be times when you really want to hear from us. (For example, when the bestseller you reserved is available for you to pick up!) We’re also legally responsible for tracking down the public property you borrow if you forget to return it.  

An expired card is different from an inactive card. We’ve just cleaned out some computer files and dropped 68,797 inactive library cards that expired over two years ago. That leaves us 89,584 active library users, plus 800-1000 new users each month.

If your library account was dropped, all you have to do to reactivate it is bring a photo ID and proof of current address to the library. (Bring your old card if you can find it, reusing it saves us 31¢.) And if you owe money and HOPE we dropped your account, sorry, we didn’t. County taxpayers pay for library materials for the community to share, and they expect us to be serious about loaning them out and getting them back.