Public library access card (plac)

PLAC at MCPL / PLAC Q & A / Indiana's PLAC Program

PLAC at Monroe County Public Library

Providing out-of-county residents access to MCPL.

The Monroe County Library Board of Trustees voted to actively promote the statewide PLAC Program to out-of-county residents beginning January 2004.

PLAC Questions and Answers

Q. What is a Public Library Access Card (PLAC)?

A. PLAC is Indiana’s statewide public library borrowing card. It allows individuals to borrow directly from any public library outside their home library district.

Q. Who is eligible?

A. Individuals with a valid resident library card in good standing from their home library are eligible for a PLAC. They must be residents or real property taxpayers of their home library’s taxing district.

Q. What is the cost?

A. The statewide fee is set annually by state law and announced by the Indiana State Library. Please see the Indiana State Library for the current fee.

Q. Where can individuals get a PLAC?

A. PLAC is available at any public library in Indiana.

Q. When does a PLAC expire?

A. A PLAC expires one year from the date of purchase.

Q. Can a PLAC be used as a family card?

A. No, a PLAC is issued as an individual card.

Q. Where do I return materials borrowed with a PLAC?

A. Return materials to the library they came from. Cardholders must follow the rules of each individual library and assume responsibility for all materials and related charges.

Q. Do college students living away from home need a PLAC?

A. Resident students do not need a PLAC to borrow from the public library in the community where their college or university is located.

For answers to more questions:

Call MCPL Circulation at (812) 349-3090.
Ask about PLAC at any MCPL checkout desk.

To get a PLAC:

Go to any checkout desk. (Bloomington or Ellettsville)
Bring your home library card.
Bring your MCPL library card if you are a current out-of-county card holder.
Show identification with your name and current address.
Pay PLAC fee with cash or personal check.

If you live in an area that does not support a library through local taxes, you may purchase an annual non-resident card at MCPL for use only at MCPL. To borrow at other libraries, you will then need to purchase a PLAC.

Indiana’s PLAC Program

Indiana’s statewide Public Library Access Card (PLAC) Program was enacted in 1992 by the Indiana State Legislature (Indiana Code 4-23-7.1-5.1).

PLAC extends access.
PLAC cardholders can borrow print materials from any public library in the state. (Loan of nonprint materials is at the discretion of the individual library.)

PLAC supports the public libraries that serve you.
Public libraries are funded by local taxes. The PLAC fee supports the libraries you use outside your local community.

More information about PLAC is available on the Indiana State Library’s website.