Library Cards and Borrowing Privileges

Patrons are required to have a library card in order to check out at the Germantown Community Library. A patron may only have one Monarch Library System card.

It is free to initially get your library card. The cost to replace a lost card is $3.00.

As a card holder you are responsible for all items checked out on your card.

Full Circulation Policy, including library cards and borrowing privileges.

Eligibility for a GCL card:

  • Residents of the following library systems: Monarch, Bridges, South Central, Winnefox, Manitowoc-Calumet, Outagamie-Waupaca, and Nicolet.
  • Students who live in Milwaukee County and are enrolled in the Germantown School District.
  • Residents of Menomonee Falls and Brookfield are eligible, but may only check out two (2) items at once.

How to apply:

  • Come into the library to fill out an application.
  • Show a valid Wisconsin ID or driver’s license with your current address. Or a valid ID and a utility bill or checkbook with your current address.
  • Children applying for a card must be 5 years-old and accompanied by a custodial parent or guardian.

With a valid card you can checkout items from:

  • The Washington County libraries at Germantown, Hartford, Kewaskum, Slinger and West Bend.
  • The Monarch Library System group of libraries that includes Dodge, Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Washington counties.
  • WISCAT (Wisconsin Resource Sharing Catalog)  interlibrary loan.
  • Digital materials through the Wisconsin Digital Library and Zinio magazines.

Loan Periods and Limits:

Loan periods are based on the type of item.

  • 4 Weeks        Adult and Children’s general fiction and non-fiction; audiobooks;
    new Adult non-fiction
  • 2 Weeks        New Adult fiction; non-feature film DVDs; book/CD kits; CDs; magazines;
    holiday books; pamplets
  • 1 Week          Feature film DVDs

The quantity of items that can be checked out per card is also based on the type of item.

  • 50     Adult and Children’s books combined
  • 20     CDs
  • 20     Magazines
  • 15     Adult and Children’s audiobooks combined
  • 15     Book/CD kits
  • 10     DVDs (total)
  • 4       DVDs (new — these are included in the 10 DVDs total.)
  • 3       Children’s holiday books (in season)