As Rita Mae Brown said, “When I got [my] library card, that was when my life began.” It’s the smartest card in your wallet and your one-way ticket to adventure, education, freedom, and entertainment. And chances are, you cherish yours, too. Whether it’s as old as you or brand-new, colorful and hip, or faded and ripped, you carry it wherever you go.

When we asked followers on social media to show off their library cards, the love (and the fun photos!) poured in. There were cards on key rings, cards made of paper, cards that were literal works of art, cards on cats, cards from the North Pole, and so much more.

While every library cardholder is a winner in our book, we selected a few standouts in the following categories:

🖼️ Most Unique or Colorful Card Design

🕰️ Most Nostalgic

🗺️ Library Card from Farthest Away

❤️ Most Well-Loved

➕ Most Library Cards

✨ Congratulations to the winners and honorable mentions! And a big thank you to everyone who shared their treasured library cards.

If you don’t have one yet, there’s no better time to get one! Check out your library and stop by your nearest branch to sign up. It comes with amazing perks—all for free!

Most Unique or Colorful Card Design

For a card design that stands out for its creativity or distinctiveness.

Enjoy a few of the eye-catching designs that inspired us to take a closer look. What lucky cardholders to carry around works of art in their pockets!

WINNER

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Most Nostalgic Card

For the oldest issued library card.

Do these library cards still work? Who knows? But we love them just the same!

WINNER

1950 (74 years old)

“This was my grandma’s card from the Detroit Public Library in 1950.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS

1966 (58 years old)

1986

1988

Library Card from the Farthest Away

For cards from libraries in far-flung or unique locations.

Library cards can be found everywhere! While the contest was limited to residents in the U.S. due to prize shipping restrictions, we loved seeing your cards from Australia, the UK, Italy, Norway, and more.

WINNER

Kenai, Alaska

HONORABLE MENTIONS

North Pole, Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska

“My library card is a copy of the mural that is located in the children’s section (named the Berry Room after the artist) of the Noel Wien Library in Fairbanks, Alaska.”

Hawaii

Most Well-Loved Card

For cards that show signs of heavy use over the years.

We all love our library cards, but these holders take that love to another level. Their trusty companions have been checking out books for decades and are still going strong!

WINNER

“Got it the day I moved to my current city 21 years ago. Sometimes it scans, sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve been told many times I could have it replaced, but I have the number memorized, so I’m keeping it.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS

“My Framingham (MA) Public Library tag has been on my key ring since 1997. Most of the bar code is worn off, but I can’t bring myself to take it off the ring. ❤️📚”

“This is my well-loved card, which after more than 20 years of regular use is peeling at the edges, but still feeding my TBR pile. I love the anniversary design they did in 2000 so much that rather than replace the card I’ve had the barcode on the other side reprinted twice when it wore out and stopped scanning. The last time we reprinted the barcode, the librarian stuck and extra layer of clear tape over it to help it last, because they know their regulars.”

Most Library Cards

For the cardholder with the most library cards.

You know how they say, “you can’t have too much of a good thing”? That applies here. Bring on all the cards.

WINNER

88 cards

HONORABLE MENTIONS

38 cards

28 cards

16 cards

If you don’t have a library card yet, what are you waiting for? Your library may even provide a way for you to get a library card right in the Libby app.

RELATED READ: Top 5 reasons you need a library card