How Do I Get a Library Card?

Signing up for a library card is completely free! A library card lets you take full advantage of all the services offered by the library. You don’t need to have a library card to spend time in the library, use our public computers, wifi, or printer/copier, or read library books inside the building. But with a library card, you can:

• Borrow books, DVDs, video games, board games, jigsaw puzzles, electronic equipment, children’s toys and learning kits, and more from our collection
• Borrow items from the other 27 libraries in the Old Colony Library Network through inter-library loan
• Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, movies, TV series, magazines, music, comics, and more on your own phone, tablet, or computer
• Reserve discount museum passes to over a dozen museums in Boston, the South Shore, and the Cape
• Get full online access to newspapers like the New York Times and the Patriot Ledger
• Access Consumer Reports and other online databases

How to Sign Up for a Library Card

Anyone of any age is welcome to register for a library card. Children under 12 will need to come in with a parent or guardian, who will need to present their own photo ID and sign the library card application as the responsible party.

If you already have a library card from another OCLN library, you can use that card here. Or if you’d prefer to have a Marshfield card, we can replace your old one for free.

If you’d like to register for a library card, you have two options:

Physical Library Card

A physical card is the standard library card that allows you to borrow any physical or digital items from the Ventress Memorial Library, and most physical items from any other library within the Old Colony Library Network. Anyone can register for a physical Ventress Memorial Library card - you don’t have to be a resident of Marshfield, or even a resident of Massachusetts.

To register for a physical library card, or convert an ecard into a physical library card, you’ll need to come to the checkout desk with:

1. A Photo ID
   
   Any official ID with your name and photo is acceptable - it doesn’t have to be a government-issued ID. However, if your photo ID does not have your current address on it, you will also need:
    
2. Proof of Address
   
   This can be a lease, an envelope you’ve received, a bill (on paper or on your phone), or an online shipping notice - as long as it has your name and current address on it. This should be your primary residential address; it doesn’t have to be a Marshfield address.

Please note: If you don’t use your physical library card for 2 years, it will expire and your information will be deleted from the system.

eCard

An eCard allows you to access our digital collections. You can check out ebooks and audiobooks with Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla, watch movies with Kanopy, read the New York Times, access Consumer Reports, and more. If you already have a physical library card, you don’t need an eCard! Your physical library card gets you all the same digital access.

If you don’t already have a physical library card, you can sign up for an eCard online without visiting the library in person. However, you won’t be able to check out any physical items until you convert your eCard into a physical card (you will need to come to the library with a photo ID and proof of address - see above).

Only residents of Massachusetts may sign up for eCards. An eCard expires if it isn’t used for 180 days.