Register & borrow
Who can use the Munich Public Library?
Everyone can visit the Munich Public Library and use it free of charge in person. You don’t have to register or show identification. Only people who want to check out books, films, games, audio books etc. require their own account. Everyone can visit the Munich Public Library and use it free of charge in person. You don’t have to register or show identification. Only people who want to check out books, films, games, audio books etc. require their own account.
How to register
The library card
You can register online or on site to get a library card. With this card you can check out, print and scan media at all our locations.
The Library Card is available for all people living, working or studying in the Munich area.
Documents required:
- ID card or passport with official confirmation of residence from the Registry Office (KVR).
- For minors under age 18 in addition to the above documents, ID card of parents or legal guardian and a signed registration form.
The registration form is available at any library or online at
www.muenchner-stadtbibliothek.de/anmeldenausleihen
Special registration and lending conditions apply to the book buses, the media mobile, the hospital libraries and the literature archive.
Registering online
Online registration takes place in our catalogue. You can pay by credit card, Giropay, direct debit, Paydirekt or PayPal. If you then want to use the services at the library, you will receive your library card on presentation of your user number and your identity card (alternatively: passport with registration confirmation from the residents’ registration office, or Einwohnermeldeamt), with which you can check out, print and scan.
As eligibility must be verified in person, those entitled to a discount cannot register online.
Membership Costs
- 12 months: 20,00 € (reduced 10,00 €)
- 3 months: 7,00 € (reduced 4,00 €)
- minors under 18 years and asylum seekers: free
- the users of the Book Bus, the hospital libraries and the Media Mobile: free of charge
Discounts
Young adults (18 and over) in apprenticeship, pension, welfare and social assistance recipients, unemployed persons, persons doing voluntary service, severely disabled persons with a degree of disability of at least 50 per cent are entitled to a discount.
Additional Fees
- Order materials for collection at a library of your own choice: free
Reserving Materials
- Adults: 1,25 € per order
- Minors: 0,65 € per order
Overdue Fines
- Adults: 0,40 € per item/per day
- Minors: 0,20 € per item/per day
Fees for Overdue Reminders
- First Letter / Reminder, sent on 7th day after end of loan period: 2,00 €
- Second Letter / Warning, sent on 17th day after end of loan period: 5,00 €
- Third Letter / Legal Notification, sent 50th day after end of loan period: 10,00 €
Paying fees
Full-paying members and old-age pensioners can pay their ID card fee online, by credit card or direct debit. You will find more detailed information in your customer account in the online catalogue.
How to borrow and return
Ordering
We can order or reserve media for you from another library that are not currently on the shelf. Ordering available titles is free of charge. For checked out titles that are reserved, there is a fee of 1.25 euros per reservation for adults and 0.65 euros for minors.
You can have a maximum of 5 items per order from another library and a maximum of 10 items from the stacks or media depot brought to your library location. You can reserve a maximum of 20 items at a time. You can check out a maximum of 20 items at a time.
Self-checkout
To check out media on site, please use our self-service checkout. First select the “Check out” option, hold your card up to the RF symbol and then place your media on the checkout table.
Returns
Your media can only be returned to the location where they were checked out. In some libraries we offer 24 hour returns, in others return is only possible during opening hours.
Please notify us at the Information desk in the event materials are lost or damaged.
Email notifications
You have the option to be notified via email about the upcoming date your checked out media is due. To do so, you can enter your email address via your user account.
Please make sure that the email address is correct and valid and, if necessary, also check your spam folder regularly so that the mail can reach you. The notification does not lead to an automatic extension of the checkout period. To extend the due date, please access your user account or contact your library.
Paying fees
You can pay overdue fines on site or online, by credit card, Giropay, direct debit or PayPal. You will find more detailed information in your customer account in the online catalogue.
Loss of Library Card:
Notify us immediately to block the card.
Your account online: www.muenchner-stadtbibliothek.de/katalog
