A word about library cards ... Some library services, like checking out books and using the Internet-connected computers, are available only to library card holders. Almost every day, someone stops in to ask about getting a library card, and those who qualify are receiving our purple and white key tag cards. A few people leave disappointed because they do not meet the residency criteria established by the state of Illinois.

To get a Princeton Public Library card free of charge, you must be a Princeton Public Library taxpayer. How do you know if you pay library taxes? If you own your home, check your tax bill for a line that reads CITY-PRINC./LIBRAR. If you rent, your landlord can tell you whether you are living in a property that is taxed for the library.

Not everyone whose mailing address reads Princeton is actually in the city of Princeton and thus taxed for the library. If you are not, don’t be discouraged. You can purchase a library card for your family to use by making a payment to the library closest to you. The charge for the non-resident card is set by using a formula provided by the state of Illinois. This card accords the owner all the services the issuing public library provides its tax-paying members.