Join the Library
Membership of the Nelson Public Libraries is free for residents and ratepayers of Nelson and Tasman.
Online Registration
Temporary online registration will allow you to reserve items and access the databases the library has subscribed to.
To register online for temporary membership, log into the Library's online system, then click the 'Not a library member?' button on that page.
To apply for full membership, you will need to:
Visit the library within two weeks with photo ID and proof that you reside in the Nelson or Tasman region, or are a ratepayer of Nelson City Council or Tasman District Council.
(People living in the district of another local authority may join on payment of a subscription.)
Conditions of membership
Your membership responsibilities
When you sign the membership form you agree to comply with the conditions of membership:
- You are responsible for your card and any items borrowed on your card. Guarantors are responsible for children’s and young person’s cards, any items borrowed, and the content of materials chosen
- Return borrowed items in good condition
- Pay replacement costs for lost or damaged items
- Pay all library rental, any extended loan charges and other fees incurred
Please remember to
- Bring your library card on each visit
- Contact us if your card is lost or stolen. You are responsible for items borrowed before the loss is reported. A replacement card charge applies.
- Contact us of any change of address or telephone number
Restrictions, cancellations and charges
- You are unable to borrow if charges on your card total $20.00 or more
- All unpaid overdue accounts sent to a debt collection agency will have a non-refundable library debt administration fee added
- In signing your membership form, you agree to information being passed to a debt collection agency should you default. In recovering money you owe, any costs incurred in the recovery of this debt will be added to your account.
- If you have not used your library card for two years or more, your membership may be cancelled
Identification required
Adults (over 18 years)
To qualify for free membership you will need:
- Personal identification with name and photo e.g. driver’s licence or passport
Together with:
- A formal or official document with your name and current residential or rate-paying address in the Nelson or Tasman region e.g. a recent utility account, bank statement, tenancy agreement, rates statement
Children (under 18 years)
For children to borrow from the children’s library only:
- Parent or guardian must show personal identification with name and photo e.g. driver’s licence or passport
For children to borrow from all sections, including the adult section of the library:
- Parent or guardian must show personal identification with name and photo e.g. driver’s licence or passport
Together with:
- A formal or official document with your name and current residential or rate-paying address in the Nelson or Tasman region e.g. a recent utility account, bank statement, tenancy agreement, rates statement
Your library card is acceptable as proof of address if your membership is currently active.
Membership Info
Student membership
- If you are a school student boarding at a Nelson or Tasman school, a current student ID card is acceptable.
- If you are under 18 years old, you will need to have the Housemaster or Hostel Manager sign the authority section of your membership form.
- If you live outside the Nelson city area and attend a Nelson or Tasman school full-time, a current student ID card is acceptable.
Subscription members
If you do not qualify for free membership to the Nelson Public Libraries, you may pay an annual subscription to join.
Subscription charges
12 months - $100
6 months - $50
3 months - $25
Visitor membership
If you're temporarily living in one of the following types of accommodation:
Backpackers
Motel
Hotel
Holiday park
Motor camp
Marina
it is possible to join the library as a temporary borrower. You must produce personal identification. The cost of this service is $20.00 per card, with restricted borrowing rights.
Once you have proof you have been living at that address for 30 consecutive days, you will be eligible for free membership.
Borrowing items
You may use your library card at all three libraries. Please bring your card with you every time you visit the library. Without it, your borrowing rights will be restricted.
Books, magazines and talking books may be borrowed for four weeks free of charge. After this time, an extended loan charge will apply. It is not possible to renew items or have them reissued immediately.
CDs and DVDs may be borrowed for two weeks at $2 each before extended loan charges apply
You can borrow a reasonable number of items per card but please be considerate of the needs of other library users.
Reserving items
If the item you require is currently not available in the library it is possible to reserve it. There is a charge of $2.00 for each reserved item from the Adult, Young Adult and Parent collections, payable when the item is collected from the library.
Returning books
Nelson library Items may be returned to any of the 3 Nelson libraries - it doesn't matter which library you had them issued from. However, all Tasman District items must be returned to a Tasman library.
When the libraries are closed, books may be returned through the "After hours book returns" slot – each Nelson library has one, situated at the main entrance.
To avoid damage please return breakable items such as CDs, DVDs etc when the library is open
Charges and fees
Extended loan charge
If you choose to keep your books etc for longer than the free loan period you will be charged an extended loan charge of 30c per day per item until you return them.
The extended loan charge is payable on all adult, young adult and parent collection materials in the library. All children's material is exempt from the charge.
Reserve charges
$2.00 per item. Children's items are exempt from this charge.
Rental charges
Music - Compact Discs $2.00
DVDs - Film, Music, TV Series $2.00
Replacement library card
$2.50
Subscription charges (for non-residents)
12 months - $100
6 months - $50
3 months - $25
Interlibrary loan
$5.00 - $20.00 per item
National Library of New Zealand compact disc
$5.00 per item
Outstanding unpaid accounts
If you owe the library $20 or more you may not borrow any more items until this amount is cleared.
All outstanding debts of $20 or more will be referred to a debt collection agency, with a $10 non-refundable debt administration fee added. All costs incurred in the recovery of outstanding accounts will be paid by the customer.
Keeping track of items out
Library ELF alert service
This free, web-based utility uses your barcode number and PIN to check the library catalogue and let you know (by email, txt or RSS) before an item has reached its due date. Register for Library ELF.
Important Privacy Notice:
Library ELF is a private service not affiliated with Nelson Public Libraries. Please read Library ELF’s privacy policy and FAQ before deciding to sign up for the service.
Library ELF's privacy policy.
Library ELF's frequently asked questions.
Find more information about how the Library ELF works.
Log in to your account online
Any Library member can keep track of their account online.
Log in to your library account online.
Automated Phone service
You can access your library account 24 hrs a day using the automated phone system:
Follow these simple steps:
- Phone 546 8100
- Choose option 2
- Enter the last 7 digits of your library card number, followed by the hash ( # ) key
- Enter your PIN number followed by the hash ( # ) key
- Press 3 for your account status
- Press 4 for a list of items on your card
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