The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative affirms a parent or guardian’s right and responsibility to guide their own children’s reading choices. The Library encourages active participation in a minor’s library use – and, in some cases (ages 0-12), requires parent or guardian supervision while in the library. A parent or guardian may close their child or teen’s library card account at anytime.
Your Library Card
These are the library card types to choose from for your child or teen:
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Teen Card
This card can check out children’s materials, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Graphic Novels, General Non-Fiction, and Classics. -
Teen Limited
This card can check out children’s materials, General Non-Fiction, and Classics. -
Teen Plus
This card can check out children’s materials, Young Adult Fiction, Young Adult Graphic Novels, General Non-Fiction, Classics, and R or non-rated DVDs without access to Adult Fiction. -
Teen Unlimited
This card can check out all library materials except for loanable technology.
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Child Card
This card can check out only children’s materials recommended for this age range. -
Child Plus
This card can check out children’s materials, General Non-Fiction, and Classics. -
Child Unlimited
This card can check out all library materials except for loanable technology.
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Adult Card
When your teen turns 17, their card will automatically update to an Adult Card with access to all library materials.
Getting Your Child a Card
To register your child or teen for a library card, you must visit any public library with a valid photo ID. Any library staff member can assist you and provide a Library Card Registration Form.
On the form, select a library card level of access for your child or teen. The parent or legal guardian listed on the child’s account can make changes at any time by visiting your local library with a photo ID.
Your Child’s Card Grows with Them
The Library will help you keep up with your child’s card as they grow. When your child turns 13, their Child Card or Child Plus card will automatically update to a Teen Card at the end of their birth month.
If you chose a Child Unlimited card, their card will automatically update to a Teen Unlimited card. When your teen turns 17, their card will automatically update to an Adult Card with access to all library materials.
What Is a Classic?
The “classics” collection is made up of all books by authors of adult fiction who are considered by at least one of several highly regarded sources as authors whose work is of high literary standard and are well-known.
Some of the sources consulted to create the classics list are:
- Baker & Taylor List – Fiction Classics
- Goodreads Classic Authors Books
- The Greatest Books
- Ingram Curated List – Oxford World’s Classics
- The New York Times Book Review - 125 Years of Literary History
- Penguin Books “100 Must Read Classic Books”
You can find these titles in the adult fiction section. These books will feature a “classic” spine label.