In Person Registration
Kanawha County Public Library cards are free if you live, work, or attend school in West Virginia.
You must be a Kanawha County resident to access any of the digital resources.
Library cards are good for 1 year and then can be renewed annually. To register for a library card, visit any KCPL location and present identification which shows your name and current address. It does not have to be photo ID. Parents and Legal Guardians of children under the age of 18 must sign for their child’s library card. Those 18 years and older, living locally in short-term housing such as hotels, extended stays, rehabilitation centers, or shelters, and can provide proof of their stay, may register for a temporary card that is good for 3 months and may be renewed if needed. Not all materials may be checked out with these cards.
Those 18 years and older with no proof of address may register for a computer use only card. These cards are limited to computer use only and has no checkout privileges.
- Driver's License or State ID
- Voter Registration Card
- Insurance Card
- Mail sent to you postmarked within 30 days of today’s date
- E-Bills
- Current lease with dates, name, and address
- Checkbook with name and current address
Educator Cards
If you are a teacher, we have a special type of card you can use to check out materials for your classroom!
To register for an Educator Card, come in to any library, call 304-343-4646, or email Terri. Find more resources just for you on our Educators Page.
Each year library cards must be renewed.
Call 304-343-4646 or visit any KCPL location to renew.
Just need to replace your card?
Visit any KCPL location and get a new one.
Replacement card is $1.
Did you once have a Library card? Not sure if you do? We can check!
Call or visit any of our location to check and see if you have an account with us and update the information.
If your account has been removed you will have to make new account.
Lost your card?
Make sure to report lost cards by emailing Circulation.Services@kcpls.org or calling your local branch. When emailing, please include your library card number, your name and address, and state that your card was lost.
Responsibilities of a Library Card
You are legally responsible for all library materials borrowed on your card, whether the items were borrowed by you or another person using your card.** Parents/Legal Guardians are responsible for materials that are borrowed on their children’s cards. Patrons must pay for any fees incurred on their cards and patrons will be blocked from checking out based on the amount of total fees.
If you lose or damage an item, it is your responsibility to pay for the replacement cost of the material which included a processing fee. KCPL does not allow for replacements or substitutions for lost or damaged items.
Library Card Pin/Password
The PIN (Personal Identification Number) is your personal password. A PIN is assigned to every user in our system when the library card is created. Patrons do have the option of changing this PIN via the online account. This PIN is used in conjunction with your library card number to place holds, renew materials, view your online library account, use the online databases, download digital resources, as well as use public PCs at the library.
If you forget your PIN, you can use the “Forgot Password/Pin” when attempting to login to your account and the system will send you a PIN via the email listed in our database for your card. However, if the library does not have an email on your account, you will need to call or visit the library.
For more information checkout the frequently asked questions, visit or call any KCPL location, or click the message bubble below to chat with a librarian.