Join & Borrow
Join the Library
Becoming a member is easy and FREE. You can join in person at any one of our eight branches. Our team will need to see a form of identification including your name and current residential address.
Under 18s
If you are under 18 you require your parent or guardian's signature and they will need to be present when you join.
Organisations
Organisations such as schools may also join for free. The membership will need to be signed by a person with appropriate authority.
Lost your library card?
Visit a branch so we can assign you with another one free of charge.
Borrow
As a member you can borrow and reserve items, download eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMovies and access e-Resources and online databases.
You must present your library card each time you borrow. Self-checkout machines are available for your convenience.
Members can borrow a maximum of 30 items for up to 3 weeks except for DVD/CDs which are for 10 days only. Keep track of your loans with Library Elf.
All items may be returned to any branch of Cairns Libraries. After hours chutes are provided at each library, and at the DFO Shopping Centre Westcourt.
Once an item is overdue your membership privileges are suspended and you will be unable to renew items or use other library services such as the internet. You will be expected to return all items before borrowing privileges are reinstated.
Renew & Reserve
Members can reserve up to 30 items at a time.
You will be notified by SMS/email when your item is ready for you to collect. You have 5 days from when your item arrives to collect or the items will be removed from the holds shelf.
You can renew items provided they aren’t reserved and you have no overdue items. Keep track of your loans with Library Elf.
You can renew items twice, provided items aren’t reserved and you have no overdue items. Items may be renewed either in person, over the phone, or via our website at member login. For phone or website renewals, please have your library card barcode number handy. To renew online you will also need your PIN.
Interlibrary Loans & Purchase Requests
Interlibrary Loan and Purchase Request Services will be temporarily unavailable from Friday, 12 April until Monday, 1 July, due to system upgrades.
Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time. We can't wait to resume providing you with exceptional service once the upgrade is complete!
Library Elf
Email Reminder Service
Register with Library Elf to track your library account. Using Library Elf, an Internet-based tool from an independently run company, you can receive email and/or RSS feeds when your items are due for return and requested titles that are ready for pick-up. You can even track all family library cards by email on the one account!
Please refer to our Membership Access Terms and Conditions Guidelines for more information.