Here's how you can get one of Toronto Public Library's sleek new cards

New card, who's this? The Toronto Public Library just dropped six new library card designs, and they're a minimalist's dream.

Just last month, the TPL introduced six new designs to their current card selection, now bringing the total to eight. In an email to Curiocity, TPL explained how the new cards offer a mix of familiar brand colours alongside brighter shades from its Children's colour palette.

"Whether a customer prefers a clean minimalist look or something bold and expressive, there's a library card for every style and age," shares TPL.

Besides being sleek and aesthetic, the new designs also feature accessibility-focused improvements. This includes a tactile notch in the top-left corner to help customers differentiate their library card from other cards in their wallet.

There are also cards with enlarged text and a barcode for improved readability, and reduced text for greater clarity.

"We're continuing to explore ways to make the cards even more accessible," shares TPL.

Toronto Public Library

And the great thing about them is that anyone replacing their existing card can choose from any of the styles offered.

New library card sign-ups can also get their hands on one of the new designs.

How to get a Toronto Public Library card

If you don't have a library card just yet, don't worry, it's a pretty straightforward process.

To get a physical library card, you need to visit open library branches with a valid and current name and address identification.

In order to qualify for a free library card, any of the following must apply to you:

• You live in the City of Toronto
• You work in the City of Toronto
• You go to school in the City of Toronto
• You own property in the City of Toronto
• You live on a First Nations reserve in Ontario

You can check the list of identification requirements online before going to a branch to register.

What you can do with a library card

And there's a lot you can do with a TPL card. Here's a list of what the card offers, according to the TPL website:

• Borrow books, music, movies and more
• Place holds through the website to reserve materials and have them sent to your nearest branch
• Download eBooks, digital magazines, movies and music
• Access eLearning resources and online homework help
• Use research databases to access magazine and newspaper archives, business directories, and other specialized content
• Reserve computer time at any branch
• Reserve a tpl:map pass for free access to Toronto museums and other venues
• Access cutting-edge technology and training at the Digital Innovation Hubs

More information can be found on the TPL website.

Now all you're left with is deciding which card design you like the most.