Library membership

Cambridgeshire Libraries members get free access to hundreds of thousands of books, eBooks, eAudiobooks, research resources and library computers. You can also borrow tablets and laptops.

Anyone who is living, working, visiting, or studying in Cambridgeshire or neighbouring counties is welcome to join. This applies even if you just want to access our online resources. Membership is free.

Join Cambridgeshire Libraries online

If you join online, you will be given a library card number. You can use this to:

  • access our e-services
  • browse our catalogue
  • place reservations on books
  • borrow up to two books at a time

You will be registered as an e-member and your membership will last for 3 years. 

You can use our services ‘card-free’ by installing our Spydus Mobile App from your app store. You log in with your card number and PIN to create a digital barcode which you can use in any Cambridgeshire library. 

Upgrading to full membership

If you would prefer a physical card, or want to borrow more than two books at a time, please visit any library with proof of your address. We will update your membership. If you are under 16 you will need a guarantor to provide proof of address.

There is a charge for replacement library cards if lost or damaged.

Join at your local library

You can visit any library to join Cambridgeshire Libraries. Full membership lasts for three years. Introductory membership lasts for four months. To get full membership you must have proof of ID.

  • Applicants aged under-12: need to be accompanied by a guarantor who must provide one proof of their name and address.
  • Applicants aged 12-15 need a guarantor proof of name and address, along with the completed joining form, signed by the guarantor. However, introductory membership can be given if you can show us proof such as a school homework book or bus pass.
  • Applicants aged 16 and above need one document with proof of identity and address. Introductory membership can be given if no proof of ID is available.

Borrowing and renewals

Borrowing items

Cambridgeshire Library members can borrow items from any of our libraries and use our online services. This includes borrowing digital stock (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eMagazines, and eNewspapers), and using our online reference resources.

Please browse our online catalogue to reserve items, borrow digital stock, and use our online resources.

Most items are available to borrow free of charge. Charges and regulations may apply to some audio-visual items, inter-library loans, music score sets, and group loans.

If the item you want is not available from Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, or Suffolk Libraries, it can be requested through inter-library loan. You can also suggest an item for purchase

Borrow from Peterborough and Suffolk Libraries

Cambridgeshire Library members can borrow items from any library in Peterborough and Suffolk for free and return items to any Cambridgeshire, Peterborough or Suffolk Library. You can search for and reserve items from Peterborough and Suffolk Libraries, from our online catalogue. There is a £2 charge for reservations, to cover the cost of transporting the item to a Cambridgeshire Library. Please be aware this may take longer than reserving items from Cambridgeshire Libraries.

FAQs about borrowing from Suffolk and Peterborough Libraries

Renewing items

Items can be renewed up to 3 times if no one else requests them. 

Items renewed before 11.50pm on the day of return will not accrue fines. See charges for late renewals.

Returning items

Most borrowed items can be returned to any library in Cambridgeshire, including mobile libraries.

Inter-library loans are the exception. They need to be returned to the library from which they were picked up.

Drop boxes for out-of-hours returns are available at:

Contact us