GETTING A LIBRARY CARD

Reward yourself with the many benefits that come with a Bethlehem Area Public Library membership!

If you’re 15 years old and up and a resident of Bethlehem City, Bethlehem Township, Fountain Hill or Hanover Township (Northampton Co.) you can apply for your card online and we will mail it to you for no charge. When you receive your card you can immediately start using it to check out eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital Magazines, and access all other BAPL online resources. Then come in to validate and activate your card to enable borrowing books, CDs and DVDs.

If you are living outside of BAPL’s borrowing area, you may be eligible for a card through the Access Pennsylvania program. To apply for an Access card, use the form below and then come to the Main Library to pick up your card. You must bring photo ID and your valid home library card at that time.

Fill out the online form to get your card mailed to you.

For Businesses and Organizations

Give your business a competitive edge and achieve better results with our eResources!

In today’s highly stressed business environment, achieving more with less is on everyone’s mind. Reliable, up-to-date information your business or organization can use to get a competitive edge has always been at a price — until now!

Bethlehem Area Public Library is offering businesses or organizations that are in our Service Area FREE access to all of our subscription-level databases using a Bethlehem Area Public Library Card for Business. Additionally, your staff will be able to borrow materials from our circulating collections without having individual member borrowing priviledges at BAPL — a win-win for company and employee.

It’s fast and easy to get a Bethlehem Area Public Library Card for Business with our downloadable application. Return your completed form per instructions and your company and staff will be on a path to business “enlightenment” in no-time.

Download Business Application

Current Cardholders

People with current library cards from other public libraries in Pennsylvania can get a library card at the Bethlehem Area Public Library with photo ID and their home library card with a blue and white Access sticker on it (placed by their home library).

Cards for Children

Parents of children from birth to 14 years of age must sign for the child’s card and show identification. A legal guardian must present proper documentation.

Card Usage

Your library card is for your personal use only – each member of your family should get his own. You will be responsible for anything that is checked out on your card, so please don’t lend it to anyone and report it to us immediately if you lose it. Please bring your library card with you whenever you come to the library. If you forget, you must have identification before we will check anything out to you. This is for your protection.

What’s Needed to Get a Card

Identification Required for a Resident Bethlehem Area Public Library Card

Column 1
One from this column is sufficient – these show who you are and where you live

Valid PA driver’s license with current address
Valid PA non-driver’s photo ID with current address

Column 2
One from this column PLUS one from Column 3 is required – these show who you are

Driver’s license with old address (photo)
Passport
Military ID with photo
School photo ID
Employment photo ID
U.S. Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”) with photo
Any other official photo

Column 3
One from this column PLUS one from Column 2 is required – these show where you live

Current tax statement addressed to applicant with current address
Current lease agreement addressed to applicant
Current utility bill or bank statement addressed to applicant
Current vehicle registration or auto insurance card with applicant’s name
Current school report card or class schedule
Current school bus card
Current YMCA or other club card with address
Current pay stub

Important Notes

Property owners must provide property tax documentation plus above resident ID information.

Access Library Card – Current Pennsylvania library card with access sticker, plus photo ID

Lost or Forgotten Library Card – Adults must have photo ID; age 17 & under must state pertinent information from their patron record. Pennsylvania driver’s license may be used as alternative ID once your PDL number is on record.

Replacement of Lost Card…..$1.00

Note: Fines are charged on days when the library is closed due to the availability of the book drops.

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Public Library, Public Use Recording Studio - Studio 11, Children’s Library. Books, E-books, movies, history, music, events.

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May 14

Open

Join us at the South Side Branch to learn how to paint a simple painting of a Summer sunset and palm trees! 🌴 ...

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May 13

Open

Documentary Film Screening - The Great Buster, A Celebration: The Life and Works of Comic Genius Buster Keaton

May 17, 2025
2:30-4:45

Our film for this month will be The Great Buster, A Celebration: The Life and Works of Comic Genius Buster Keaton (2018), a look into the storied career of an icon of the Silent Era and the impact he had on early Hollywood. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich and winner of Best Documentary on Cinema at the Venice Film Festival.

The event will take place starting at 2:30 PM on Saturday, 17 May 2025. Registration will be open until one hour before the program begins, and capacity is limited to 30 participants.

Register here: https://t.ly/9GJzE

Bethlehem Area Public Library
11 W. Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018-5888 ...

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May 13

Open

Check out some of the new & recently added books to the South Side Branch adult fiction/nonfiction collection! Do any of them catch your interest? 📚 ...

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May 13

Open

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May 13

Open

BAPL Book Sale
Wednesday, May 14th, 12-8
Saturday, May 17th, 10-4
11 W. Church St. Bethlehem, PA 18018

The BAPL Book Sale at the Main Library is held every other month, typically on a Wednesday from 12-8 then Saturday from 10-4. Expect thousands of books, DVDs, records, comic books, children`s books and much more!!

Note: To ensure an enjoyable experience for all attendees, we kindly ask that no book scanners or other electronic pricing devices be used on Wednesdays. They may be used during Saturday’s sale. Thank you for your cooperation! ...