Get a Library Card
You can get a library card at the service desk at any location of the Shelby County Library District.
If you live within Shelby County, you may obtain a library card with no charge. If you do not live in Shelby County, but are employed or go to school in Shelby County you may obtain a library card by showing proof of your employment or enrollment. Cards for patrons under 18 years old will need a parent’s or guardian’s signature, identification and proof of address. You must be old enough to sign your name in order to obtain a library card.
Non-Resident Cards
If you do not live in Shelby County but would like a Shelby County Library Card, the fee is $30.00 annually.
What to Bring
When you come to any Shelby County location for your card, you’ll need to fill out and sign an application. You will need a picture identification with proof of residency (driver’s license, or bill sent to home if you’re new to the area).
Renewing Your Card
Resident Library cards are issued for three years. All other cards are issued for one year. You can renew your card in person at the Circulation desk at any location in the Shelby County Library District.
Report a Lost or Stolen Card Immediately
Please call 205.439.5500 or come to any service desk. Please report lost cards immediately because you are responsible for every item checked out on your card. There is a $3.00 replacement fee for lost cards.
Checkout Information
Material
Children’s Books
General Collection
Large Print Books
Easy Readers
Audio Books
Magazines
New Books no renewals
Videos and DVDs Limit 10/no renewals on NEW DVDs
Music CDs
Non-Fiction Videos
Children’s Computer Games
Library Mobile HotSpot
Loan Time
14 days
14 days
14 days
14 days
14 days
14 days
14 days
7 days
7 days
7 days
Limit 3 for 7 days
no renewals 7 days
Renewals
You can renew by phone by calling 205.669.3928. To renew online click here to log into your account. Once you’ve logged in, click on Items Out and then select the items you wish to renew. OR Call 439-5509 to renew by phone.
Items without holds and with renewals left will be automatically renewed up to three times.
Don’t know how to log in to renew? Read on:
Once you’ve clicked on the link to log into your account
Enter your Barcode Number (located on the back of your library card, example- 21726123456789)
Enter your Password
Click on Items Out
Select the items you would like to renew
Click on Renew Selected Items OR Renew All Items
After you have completed your renewals be sure to Log Out.
Return of Materials
Most library materials can be returned to any Shelby County Library. Each library has different rules. Check the front of the item for any special return instructions. For North Shelby and Mt Laurel items from the Library of Things and hotspots must be returned inside to the branch you checked it out from. Board games and puzzles from North Shelby need to be returned to the circulation desk at North Shelby. Both libraries have an outside drop box for materials when we are closed.
Requests
Materials in circulation may be requested through our online catalog, by phone at 205.439.5500, or in person at any desk.
In your catalog search results you will see a “Place Request” button under the title.You will be prompted to choose a library location where your item will be held for you and you will receive email notification or an automated phone call that your item is ready for pickup. You have 5 business days to pick up your hold. Information on your requests is also available through your My Account page. Your account page will show the status of your request as “Held” when the item is at your pick up location.
Additional statuses for requests listed in your online account may be ‘in transit’ (the item is on its way to your pick up location), 1 of 1 holds (you are first on a list of 1 hold) or 2 of 7 holds (you are 2nd on a list of 7 holds).
Overdue Fines
By logging in to your account you can also check the status of your Requests and Fines & Fees.
Don’t know how to log in? Click here.
Material
Children’s Books
General Collection
Large Print Books
Audio Books
Music CDs
Magazines
New Books
Videos & DVDs
Non-Fiction DVDs
Children’s Video Games
Library Mobile HotSpot
Replacement costs will be charged for lost or damaged materials.
Fee Per Day
$.10
$.10
$.10
$.10
$.10
$.10
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
$2.00
Charges:
Replace lost library card: $3.00
Payment Policy
Borrowing privileges will be suspended on any Library Card with $10.00 or more in unpaid charges. Unpaid balances over $500 may be sent for collection and a collection fee will be charged.
Payment may be made at any circulation desk with cash or a check made payable to the North Shelby Library. We accept Visa and Mastercard.
Annual Assessment Fees
WHAT IS THIS BILL FOR?
In 1988 the voters in five beats or areas of the northern part of the County voted to establish a library district to support public libraries for anyone entering the library or accessing via the internet. They voted to require property owners within these beats to financially support it. Financial support of the District is unaffected by a subsequent annexation (at the owner’s request or otherwise) into a municipality as the mission of the District and the public it serves is unchanged. There is no mechanism to restrict public library services to only those who pay for them, such as occurs when a fire district is taken over by a municipal fire department.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT I OWE?
Go online to https://northshelbylibraryal.igovservices.com/User/HomePagePropertySearch or call the Business Office at 205-439-5555.
HOW CAN I PAY MY BILL?
Go to https://northshelbylibraryal.igovservices.com/User/HomePagePropertySearch, come by the Library between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., mail a check to 5521 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham, AL 35242 or call the Business Office at 205-439-5555 to pay by credit card over the phone.
IF YOU PLAN TO ASK THAT LATE FEES, ATTORNEY FEES, INTEREST OR PENALTIES BE WAIVED OR REDUCED, SEND YOUR REQUEST IN WRITING TO THE BOARD AT 5521 CAHABA VALLEY ROAD, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35242.
NO ONE IN THE BUSINESS OFFICE CAN MODIFY LATE CHARGES, INTEREST, PENALTIES OR ATTORNEY FEES.
Be forewarned that because any bill sent is a courtesy notice, there is no requirement that you receive the bill for it to be due or past due. So the following reasons will not rise to the level necessary to get any fees waived: I did not get any bills. My mortgage company pays this. You sent it to a house I moved from 5 years ago. You addressed the bill to the former owner. I am not going to break the law by reading someone else’s mail. You sent this to my rental house and my tenant did not give it to me.
WHAT IF THE COUNTY HAS MY HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, CLASS OR ASSESSED VALUE WRONG?
Contact the Business Office. Staff will coordinate with the Tax Commissioner’s office to make sure that your Library District bill matches any changes the County may have made for this or prior years.
WHAT IF MY PROPERTY IS NOT WITHIN THE LIBRARY DISTRICT?
The Business Office cannot correct this. Send your request, in writing to the Board and include a certified copy of the approved and filed annexation petition done by either the Hoover or Birmingham City Council on or before June 26, 1988. Even though these should have been filed in Shelby County, try looking in Jefferson County if you are sure your property is outside the District. The only involved subdivisions are Southlake, portions of Havenwood, Altadena Woods, Linwood and Brook Highland Shopping Center. Any annexation after June 26, 1988, is not a part of this process.
WHAT IF MY PROPERTY IS IN HOOVER, BIRMINGHAM, CHELSEA, PELHAM, LEEDS, OR VESTAVIA HILLS AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY?
The voters decided what properties were within the District, whose owners must financially support the Library District. The Board has no authority to alter the boundaries by adding or deleting properties.
WHY IS THERE A SERVICE FEE ON MY BILL?
The service fee is to recoup the costs of processing payments. This is similar to the handling fee charged by Shelby County for license tag renewal. Shelby County adds a service charge for any transaction type that has additional fees to process. Making payment by credit card or mail-in check has an additional cost but is a convenience we offer for our patrons.
WHY IS THE REMITTANCE ADDRESS LISTED ON THE INVOICE IN TEXAS?
This is where the Cadence Bank payment processing center is now located. The bank is still local.
SEND PAYMENTS TO:
P.O. Box 4926
Houston, TX 77210-4926
Still have questions?
email: nsbusinessoffice@shelbycounty-al.org
fax: 205.439.5503
phone: 205.439.5555